LeBron James silences critics with NBA title

As LeBron James was announced NBA Finals MVP on Thursday night you could just about hear a faint whisper of boos still ring around the American Airlines Arena but following his 26pts, 13ast, 11reb game five performance, it is becoming harder and harder for even the die hard LeBron haters to keep hating.

When James stepped forward to collect the trophy from Hall of Famer Bill Russell the whisper of boos was drowned out ferociously by chants of “MVP! MVP!”

Kitted up in his championship hat and t-shirt James received his award before being asked what ran through his mind as the final buzzer sounded.

James paused for a second, looked around the arena and then answered.

“It’s about damn time,” said the MVP as he smiled to the roar of the crowd. ”It’s about damn time.”

There’s no denying that.

For so long criticisms of LeBron focused on his inability to deal with pressure, with his failure to perform in the clutch, to lead his team when it matters most but last night he finally set the record straight.

Say what you will about his time in Cleveland or his controversial decision to move to South Beach but throughout the course of this season’s playoffs the man has been almost unstoppable.

Averaging 30.3ppg 9.7rpg and 5.6apg in the post season James has been able to lift his team whenever they needed him.

After going down 2-1 in the first round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers things weren’t looking good for Miami. In game four LBJ came up big, scoring 40 points and grabbing 18 rebounds to even the series.

With his side trailing the Boston Celtics 3-2 in the Conference finals James once again dragged his side along putting up 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists en route to a 98-79 win in Boston.

Nights later he totalled 31 points and 12 rebounds to secure his teams place in the NBA finals. He did it over and over again in the finals, hitting big shots, playing through pain, leading his team on and off the court.

While some may still find errors in his game, his will and determination to win can no longer be questioned. With his performance throughout this year’s playoffs overshadowing his counterparts he feels its time for the criticisms to stop.

“A lot of people said that I was selfish, that I was a selfish person, a selfish basketball player,” said James following Miami’s 121-106 victory. “You know, I strive on being a team player, doing whatever it takes to help this team win. But at the same time, I use it as motivation. And I’m happy that I was able to make enough plays that I was able to put ourselves in position to win this championship.”

Following last years painfully disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals the pressure has been on James and the Heat to get back to the Promised Land this season.

Following such pain and frustration LeBron was asked how he was able to re-focus his mind coming into this season.

“I just went back to the basics,” James said. “I knew what got me to this point and that was hard work and dedication and I never had to prove anything to anyone. You know, in my first seven years, I just went out and let the game take care of itself.

“And last year, I tried to prove something to everybody and I played with a lot of hate,” he continued. “And that’s not the way I play the game of basketball. I play it with a lot of love and a lot of passion and that’s what I got back to this year.

Capturing his first and the franchises second NBA title, LeBron and the “Big Three” will now be expected to go on and win multiple championships but for now, LeBron is allowed to enjoy.

“I mean, uh… this right here is the happiest day of my life,” James said. “I wouldn’t want to spend it with nobody else in the world besides my teammates, these fans – oh, my God, you guys are unbelievable and this is a dream come true.”

With LeBron capturing his first title the comparisons between “King James” and Michael Jordan are bound to ensue and, while I may not agree fully with it, for those that are quick to point out that Jordan finished with six NBA rings and LeBron only has one, may I just remind you that MJ was 28 when he won his first championship while LBJ is currently 27.

Just a little something to think about.