Miami Heat champion and all-time NBA great LeBron James is a man of many words. When he speaks those words, we all tend to listen to him.
With the Miami Heat and the NBA getting ready to tip things back off, at least according to the details provided, we are all getting excited. Not only are most of us excited to finally see our favorite professional basketball teams get back to it, in hopes of finishing an abandoned season due to coronavirus, but it finally gives us something outside of the mundane routine of quarantine life focus on.
Well, as mentioned, most of us were excited, except one NBA player in particular. According to reports like this one from The Athletic (subscription required) Kyrie Irving, staunchly against an NBA restart, led a call of a multitude of NBA players recently to speak out against a potential comeback.
Although it seems kind of fishy, his reasons are valid. If they had come from anyone except him, they might have a point. However and with knowing all that we know about Irving, I firmly believe that if he were able to play and go for a shot at the title, he wouldn’t be as vocal as he is.
Being on the precipice of Miami Heat basketball again, one NBA player has come out against a restart. The most powerful NBA player, though, is all for it.
Nevertheless, one former Miami Heat champion and the man with a voice that carries all over the world is ready to tip things back off. LeBron James recently said as much and here is a quote on the matter, from and by Sam Amick of The Athletic (subscription required), that details James’s feelings.
"Sources say James, whose Lakers have as good a chance at the title as any of the 22 teams invited to Walt Disney World, believes playing in Orlando won’t deter his ability to continue inspiring change.He wants to keep making his mark off the court. He wants to play basketball. And as has always been the case, he clearly believes he can do both at the same time."
When the king speaks, we all listen. That is just what it is.
I am eager to see the continuation of the Miami Heat season, as they were having an amazing one before the league was suspended. Out of the roughly 450 NBA players, when you multiply 15 men by the 30 NBA teams, you can safely assume that around 400 of them are black or brown people.
If they feel as though they want to go play, then so be it, let them. If you take the 80 that supposedly joined Irving’s call, then that still isn’t the majority of those 400 and by a long way.
Tip Miami Heat basketball back off already. We need something to look forward to.