2008 Redeem Team didnt want LeBron
 

Was surprised to hear this. Interesting.

"Behind the scenes, officials had taken to calling James' inner circle, 'The Enablers.' No one ever told him to grow up," Woj added. "No one ever challenged him. And yet, James was still a powerful pull for his teammates, and everyone had to agree they could no longer let his bossy and belittling act go unchecked. These weren't the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Team USA wasn't beholden to him."

Team USA doesn't need LeBron if Kobe's there

Due to the potential complications that could arise from including LeBron in the lineup, Team USA was prepared to exclude him entirely from their plans. The team felt assured that Kobe Bryant, who was coming off his MVP season that year, would serve as the ideal leader for their squad.

Not a surprise.

He’s been a crippler since entering the NBA.

LeBron was significantly better than Kobe during those Olympics

So that’s a thing

[QUOTE=asujbl;19926302]LeBron was significantly better than Kobe during those Olympics

So that’s a thing[/QUOTE]

Can't blame Kobe for wanting the spotlight back after he couldn't play on the 2004 Olympic team...

You know... because of the Rape thing still looming over him.

The 2004 Olympics team failed to win the gold with LeBron.

Kobe was recovering from injuries and wasn’t on the roster.

The fear was that a LeBron-lead team would settle with a bronze metal again.

[QUOTE=tjforce;19926312]Can't blame Kobe for wanting the spotlight back after he couldn't play on the 2004 Olympic team...

You know... because of the Rape thing still looming over him.[/QUOTE]

Well yeah… but LeBron was a 24 year old bully

Whats really worse?

[QUOTE=asujbl;19926302]LeBron was significantly better than Kobe during those Olympics

So that’s a thing[/QUOTE]

Um...what? Kobe and Dwade were the reason they won to my recollection

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19926313]The 2004 Olympics team failed to win the gold with LeBron.

Kobe was recovering from injuries and wasn’t on the roster.

The fear was that a LeBron-lead team would settle with a bronze metal again.[/QUOTE]

LeBron was 19

Medal

[QUOTE=JP333;19926318]Um...what? Kobe and Dwade were the reason they won to my recollection[/QUOTE]

You’re wrong… but that’s OK

15/3/3 on 46/32 splits (13 shots a game)
16/5/4 on 60/46 splits (10 shots a game)

[QUOTE=asujbl;19926319]LeBron was 19

Medal[/QUOTE]

At 23, the veterans still felt he was too immature for the Olympic team concept.

At 40, he still doesn’t get it.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19926322]At 23, the veterans still felt he was too immature for the Olympic team concept.[/QUOTE]

And yet he was the best player on the team

So maybe he wasn’t the problem

[QUOTE=asujbl;19926323]And yet he was the best player on the team

So maybe he wasn’t the problem[/QUOTE]

It’s called selfish stat-padder.

They would have won without him.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19926327]It’s called selfish stat-padder.

They would have won without him.[/QUOTE]

That makes sense

[QUOTE=asujbl;19926329]That makes sense[/QUOTE]

There’s only one basketball. Bron thinks his name is on it.

[QUOTE=hermanotarjeta;19926334]There’s only one basketball. Bron thinks his name is on it.[/QUOTE]

Kobe took more shots per game and at a much worse clip… but you keep doing your thing

Lebron is the type of superstar that fans love to trash when he is playing but will grudgingly miss when he's gone -- think Barry Bonds. Trust me -- when the league is being headed by bland stars that average people won't recognize on the street, you'll realize what I'm talking about.

[QUOTE=fabiani12333;19926339]Lebron is the type of superstar that fans love to trash when he is playing but will grudgingly miss when he's gone -- think Barry Bonds. Trust me -- when the league is being headed by bland stars that average people won't recognize on the street, you'll realize what I'm talking about.[/QUOTE]

I think Bron is more like a circus, and I won’t miss going to the circus when it leaves town for good.

Part of me wants to trash Bron all day. But then I only got to see him in the later years of his career and the physicality he endures at his age is something. Anyway, even with Bron gone there will always be Luka to hate and he probably will get his ring if dynasty pacers let him.

[QUOTE=Nomad;19926485]Part of me wants to trash Bron all day. But then I only got to see him in the later years of his career and the physicality he endures at his age is something. Anyway, even with Bron gone there will always be Luka to hate and he probably will get his ring if dynasty pacers let him.[/QUOTE]

Don’t forget KD!

[QUOTE=fabiani12333;19926339]Lebron is the type of superstar that fans love to trash when he is playing but will grudgingly miss when he's gone -- think Barry Bonds. Trust me -- when the league is being headed by bland stars that average people won't recognize on the street, you'll realize what I'm talking about.[/QUOTE]

8.9 million people watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals earlier this week.

To put that in perspective: 38.8 million people watched the Cowboys vs Giants on Thanksgiving day last year.

Yes... 30 million more people tuned in to watch Cooper Rush vs Drew Lock than SGA vs Haliburton

[IMG]https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR1MVS7yVfn9zCIJdGoNrioteQgAHkdZBMwGA&s[/IMG]

Not surprised in the least.

[QUOTE=tjforce;19926511]8.9 million people watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals earlier this week.

To put that in perspective: 38.8 million people watched the Cowboys vs Giants on Thanksgiving day last year.

Yes... 30 million more people tuned in to watch Cooper Rush vs Drew Lock than SGA vs Haliburton[/QUOTE]

Still more than 2020 Finals game 1, which featured Lebron...

Can't compare football viewership to NBA.

Viewership went up to 11 million by the end of 4th quarter, actually on par with peak Super Bowl at the end of this year's game. Ok it took an absolute thriller vs. an absolute dud to get that parity.

Also encouraging growth in the 24-35 demographic.

As somebody said, if you didn't watch, you don't love the game of basketball.

Maybe the hobby should focus on basketball lovers.