Fansided

LeBron James: 5 reasons why “The Essay” feels phony

By Bryce Olin

Nov 27, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Miami won 95-84. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Miami won 95-84. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (center) holds his fourth MVP trohpy next to head coach Erik Spoelstra (left) and Heat president Pat Riley (right) at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (center) holds his fourth MVP trohpy next to head coach Erik Spoelstra (left) and Heat president Pat Riley (right) at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

“I’m doing this essay because I want an opportunity to explain myself uninterrupted. I don’t want anyone thinking: He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riles didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together. That’s absolutely not true.“

He said it, not me.

I cannot understand why James included this segment in his essay. Is he that sensitive to what people think? Why does it matter if people think that’s why he left anyway?

Is he Obi Wan Kenobi now?

Those three sentences feel strangely similar to “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” As if, James wants the media and public to take it at face value and not start turning up stones, looking for clues.

A lot of people might buy it, and I did for a little while, but I don’t anymore. Spoelstra and James might have got along great. From the outside, it looked like they had a good relationship. Riley and James, on the other hand, seemed to have a professional relationship, but I don’t know how much James liked the moves Riley was trying to make for the Heat.

It goes hand-in-hand with Gilbert and Griffin bending over backward to accommodate James and what he wants. Ultimately, Cleveland was always going to do that for James to get him to come home. Riley and Miami wanted to make James stay and not quit when it got tough.

At first, it appeared James was choosing a much harder road by going to a young team with an unproven head coach. Now, it’s obvious James chose the better basketball team. And, that’s ultimately the point I’m trying to make.

James might have gone home because he wanted to go home, but there are so many other factors involved that contributed to him returning to Cleveland. James’ essay avoided all of those other reasons in fear of what the public would think if the real reasons ever came out.

With the Love trade about to happen, James’ guys signing with the Cavs, and James back in the good graces with a “clean” conscience, I think it’s pretty clear what James’ intentions were by returning to Cleveland.

James’ essay, though, doesn’t reflect all of those intentions, but only the one he wants us to know.

King James is coming home.

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