November 30, 2008
Kenny Smith: LeBron Alienating Teammates With Free Agency Talk
Just in case LeBron James thinks that he looks good by fanning the fire of his controversial future, Kenny Smith wants to remind him that Charles Barkley isn't alone when looking at the 2010 free agency talk with disgust.
Barkley has backed the city of Cleveland as well as the entire Cavaliers organization when talking about what has suddenly become the hottest topic in the NBA (yes, that magical 2010-11 season). But during TNT's Thanksgiving Day doubleheader telecast, Smith showed genuine concern for James' Cleveland teammates, whom he continuously referred to as "those 11 guys in the locker room":
"I think that LeBron has made some of the right comments, but he hasn't made the perfect comment. He still alienated 11 guys in his locker room. What I mean by that, he hasn't said, 'You know what, we're [14-3] right now. We're a championship-caliber team. We're going to win multiple championships here while I'm here. Period. End of story.'
"That is the story right there, because what that does is that takes 11 other guys to say, 'We have your back and we'll run through a wall for you.' He then brings confidence to guys who might not normally have confidence. The Delonte Wests. The Mo Williams'. The rest of those guys. He lifts them up a little bit higher in their mental preparation for games. But when you say, 'I want to be on a championship team in two years,' then it kind of alienates the guys that are there.
"So I think he should say, 'I'm a Cleveland Cavalier for life.' Even if it's not the truth, it makes those 11 other guys feel important."
With that, Smith questions James' leadership as it relates to this entire circus. Is LeBron a good leader? He's a phenomenal player, as the world over knows, but there's a difference between being a team's best player and being a leader.
Scoring 48 points in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Detroit is called being the best player. But getting swept by the Spurs in the NBA Finals shows a lack of leadership.
Scoring 45 points in Game 7 at Boston is being the best player. Losing that game despite the monster individual performance is a lack of leadership.
Right now, the Cavs look like they can beat anybody. If you've watched this team play, then you know for a fact that the Lakers or Celtics don't scare them. In fact, you'd probably put good money on them taking out either in a best-of-seven, regardless of whether or not you're a Cavs fan.
When it gets right down to it in April, May, and hopefully June, LeBron's leadership of this team - which he continuously always refers to as "my team" - will be the ultimate difference on whether or not there is a parade in Cleveland this summer. Coming out of the gates on fire in November is a start. But the trophy isn't awarded in the fall.
It's definitely something to keep an eye on. We always think about Cleveland fans in this entire scenario. We think about Dan Gilbert, Danny Ferry, and the Cavaliers organization. But at this particular point in this entire soap opera, nobody is affected by it more than the other guys who wear wine and gold next to LeBron.
Props to Smith for bringing this angle into the forefront.
Discussion
16 Comments on "Kenny Smith: LeBron Alienating Teammates With Free Agency Talk"
#1
Posted by CavsBlogNet, November 30, 2008 5:09 PM
How does getting swept by the Spurs show a lack of leadership? It shows Lebron had no help. Lebron consistently setup his teammates over and over, only to have them blow their opportunities. Is Kobe a good leader because he won all those championships? Why can't he win anything without Shaq?
Are you saying that a good leader would have won The Finals that year with that squad? Michael Jordan couldn't do anything with the garbage Lebron had.
A leader is only as good as the people he's leading.
#3
Posted by MJPiP3323, November 30, 2008 6:40 PM
I think Kenny Smith is in a better position to talk about leadership than anyone who will comment on this article. Kenny Smith played college ball with Michael Jordan and won a pair of NBA championships with Hakeem. I truly think he understands what it means to play beside the best player on the floor and to play under the direction of a tremendous team leader. Saying LeBron had no help is a bogus argument, because that team made it to the Finals. As great as he was individually (and he WAS great) he did not beat any team by himself. When leadership fails it doesn't matter how talented your team is (94-95 Magic, '00 Blazers, '02 Kings, '04 Lakers). You will lose. If LeBron can find a way to hurt defenses by using his teammates as well as he scores, then he'll get that ring in Cleveland.
#4
Posted by Facts, November 30, 2008 7:01 PM
Before saying that Lebron had no help, please note that Lebron's FG% was horrendous throughout the Spurs series. He was actually a detriment to the team, based on how he played during that series. Specifically, the Spurs shut down Lebron from the paint, the only place where he can score consistently from. The result? A clean sweep.
#5
Posted by Celticsfanatic, November 30, 2008 8:17 PM
Holy Cow, Kenny Smith made a story out of nothing. I am a Celtics fan so it is no big deal to me but give the guy a break. Your team is really good right now. They should be on cloud 9 and everyone is just beating to death something that won't even happen until the end of next year. Lebron should just say he won't comment at all on anything about where he will play in the future. On second thoughts the more the continued controversy swirls and bogs down the Cavs the better chance the Celts have of repeating. Keep up the good work.
#6
Posted by Little Z, November 30, 2008 9:22 PM
Maybe Kenny Smith is just trying to be polite.I don't think it's as much about Bron's "leadership",as it is about his over inflated ego.Everything is me,me,me and this is MY team,or I'm there for them.Very rarely does he ever praise his own teammates.All the NY hype and global icon crap,just massages that ego and he eats it up too much.He seems to have no sense of loyalty or hometown pride for Cleveland.That's evidenced by his support for only dynasty teams such as the Cowboys and Yankees.I bet if the truth was known,he was a Laker fan growing up.At any rate,you can be pretty sure he wasn't a Cavs fan.LeBron seems to care more about multiple rings and his status as some global icon.He reasons that the NBA is just a business.While that is true,I would think that most players(under the same circumstances),would still rather play for their hometown team if they could.I know for certain that I would.
#7
Posted by Charlie, November 30, 2008 9:55 PM
LeBrongate is the biggest non-story of the year. He's under contract for at least two more years. That's an eternity. Cavs are 14-3, let's enjoy it.
#8
Posted by Gimme Some Mo Williams in reply to comment from CavsBlogNet, November 30, 2008 11:16 PM
I think the thing about the Spurs series is that they got SWEPT, not that they LOST. You think a team with Jordan in his fourth year gets swept like that? At least push it back to San Antonio for a Game 6. But just getting beat like a drum?
And another poster on here is right about LeBron's stats being godawful during that series. A leader at least goes out respectfully. The Cavs just got their on LeBron's individual brilliance alone, not because of how they were as a team. An elite leader at least makes his team more competitive than getting SWEPT.
#9
Posted by Amar Panchmatia, December 1, 2008 1:21 AM
Kenny Smith elaborated on this when he mentioned how it would mean a lot to role players like himself if a guy like Hakeem said, "We have the pieces we need to win a championship." In his interviews with Stephen A. Clown, LeBron went on the record as saying that the Cavs DON'T have the pieces to win a championship. How do you say that when you're killing teams? That doesn't do his teammates justice. Three other starters are averaging double-figures - including two above 15 points - and he isn't doing much for their confidence by saying that they don't have it.
It may seem really trivial to worry about the psyche of other guys, and many fans may think that these guys don't need encouragement to play the game that they are paid to play, but that's not the issue here, and this is a lot more important than many are making it out to be. When you're the leader, you have to show confidence in your guys, ESPECIALLY when you're 14-3, undefeated at home, and just killing teams around the league.
Kenny Smith's point is valid, because as he said, he's been one of those 11 guys on a supporting cast. And he's won two championships with a natural born leader: Hakeem Olajuwon.
#10
Posted by Eric, December 1, 2008 6:18 AM
Amar, the Cavs don't have the pieces to win a championship. That's why the Cavs don't have one.
Stop being delusional about the Cavs early success. The Cavs success has come at the expense of garbage teams. The Cavs have lost all three match ups against quality teams.
You look silly comparing the Rockets to the Cavs. Are you really suggesting that the Cavs are more talented than those Championship Rockets?
And if the Cavs are killing other teams, then how can Kenny's point be valid? Who's hurt and not performing because of Lebron's comments?
#11
Posted by Charlie, December 1, 2008 8:05 AM
I'm not sure why we're dredging up the Spurs series again (years of therapy down the drain! j/k) ... look, LBJ's supporting cast was dramatically different (and indisputably much worse) then. We had LH instead of Mo. Pavs playing big minutes instead of Delonte. Drew Gooden instead of Big Ben. Scrubs like Donyell and DJ. Younger, more "raw" versions of AV and Boobie. The Spurs double and triple teamed LBJ every single possession because they rightly knew he was the only guy who could beat them. So of course his stats were bad. LBJ carried the team on his back that entire playoffs, and didn't throw anyone under the bus when he easily could have.
I don't like LBJ's off-the-court "coyness" or whatever it is any more than anyone else. But I also haven't seen it translate into his or anyone else's play. LBJ's leadership on the court--to me at least--is indisputable.
#12
Posted by Charlie, December 1, 2008 8:06 AM
I'm not sure why we're dredging up the Spurs series again (years of therapy down the drain! j/k) ... look, LBJ's supporting cast was dramatically different (and indisputably much worse) then. We had LH instead of Mo. Pavs playing big minutes instead of Delonte. Drew Gooden instead of Big Ben. Scrubs like Donyell and DJ. Younger, more "raw" versions of AV and Boobie. The Spurs double and triple teamed LBJ every single possession because they rightly knew he was the only guy who could beat them. So of course his stats were bad. LBJ carried the team on his back that entire playoffs, and didn't throw anyone under the bus when he easily could have.
I don't like LBJ's off-the-court "coyness" or whatever it is any more than anyone else. But I also haven't seen it translate into his or anyone else's play. LBJ's leadership on the court--to me at least--is indisputable.
#13
Posted by Little Z, December 1, 2008 12:34 PM
Amar is right - Kenny Smith is right.Whether anyobody thinks the Cavs DO or DO NOT have the pieces to win a championship is not the subject.Leadership is NOT just being a great player on the court.A leader also leads by saying and doing the right things off the court.A leader MUST believe in, and promote a positive team morale and confidence in his teammates first and foremost.It is the very basis of being a leader for your team,your coach and your entire organization.To inspire others to aspire to the belief, that they CAN accomplish a goal together.THEN,and only THEN you lead by example.Right now the Cavs are winning in spite of the media circus,but it's a long season and if Bron can't be a positive force and team leader off the court,then in the words of Charles B. -Shut the hell up.
#14
Posted by WITNESS in reply to comment from Little Z, December 2, 2008 11:02 PM
I like Littlez's point - LeBron is an on-the-court floor general who can do it all. He definitely boosts the confidence of those playing with him (if you've seen the players in the locker room, they know not to mind the lebron circus). Also, in those NBA ads they show the hundreds of times that KG said that they weren't good enough of a team, and who questions KG's leadership because of that? LEBRON FTW.
#15
Posted by mike, December 3, 2008 9:27 AM
amar - i have to disagree with the stephen a. smith interview.
Stephen A. Smith: Do you feel this team is good enough to win the title? LeBron James: "Right now? I don't think so. Not right now. But I think we have the right pieces, the right mentality."
lbj didnt say we dont have the pieces now. hes saying they do but they still need more time to mature and develop. its going to be a fun year!
#16
Posted by Darnell, December 3, 2008 3:22 PM
As a suffering fan in Minnesota, who happens to be a big LeBron fan, I find it crazy that anyone can criticize the man for not committing long-term to Cleveland. First off, people, this is a business decision and he wants to make sure that management is going to do what they are supposed to do, and surround him with the best talent. Ask KG how it feels to waste away your best years with a mediocre group.
A lot of you mention the Spurs series, but if you take Ginobili and Parker off that team and replace them with some scrubs, Tim Duncan wouldn't be respected as the champion he is.
Cut Lebron a break, he is a leader and the Cavs are responding by their record...despite what Kenny, Charles or any of the other "critics" say. Food for thought, they get paid to criticize...what do you get?
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