Miami Heat: 3 things you didn’t know about LeBron James’ ‘The Decision’

The Miami Heat were apart of one of the most infamous moments in sports history, ‘The Decision’. Here are 3 facts I bet you didn’t know about the production.

The Miami Heat are an excellent franchise. They are an honorable one too whom, although can get a little rough around the edges if you push them, try to do things the right way for the most part.

Even they though can sometimes run afoul as far as their actions or inactions go. Today, we are talking about the infamous Miami Heat sports moment that will forever live in infamy, LeBron James‘ The Decision.

The circus that turned out to be LeBron’s announcement that he was leaving Cleveland the first time in order to take his  “talents to South Beach”, is something that will never be lived down. The only thing that might be more infamous than that moment is the pep rally that followed, you know, the “Not one, not two, not three, not four …” one.

In any scenario, ESPN will allow us to relive that period of time in history as they will air a new installment of original programming, with this one titled Backstory: The Decision. Here is an official quote from ESPN on the episode.

"The behind-the-scenes developments that led to The Decision, the far-reaching consequences of the telecast and its legacy for a new era of player empowerment will all be examined in the new episode of Backstory, the ESPN documentary series featuring the investigative reporting of three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Don Van Natta, Jr. The series brings new reporting and fresh perspectives to some of the most intriguing stories and characters in sports history."

The Miami Heat will forever live in infamy when it comes to LeBron James’ ‘The Decision’. Here are three things I bet you didn’t know about it though.

Before you get all excited and ready to watch the whole thing unfold though, again, we have something for you. Here are three things that I bet you didn’t know about The Decision, that this show will probably answer for you.

The original idea for The Decision came from a surprising source not connected to either James or ESPN.

This is something that none of us knew. You would think, with all and everything else that LeBron and his team have going on or has a hand in, that they were responsible for the whole shebang.

It would seem right up their alley. For a show that was All LeBron & Only LeBron, as far as the perspective, vantage, for who it benefitted the most, it would most certainly seem like the brainchild of James, Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, and the rest of the team.

Well, it turns out that it wasn’t. This episode of Backstory should reveal exactly who was behind it all.

The show actually started taking shape months earlier than previously known.

While this one isn’t a complete shocker, it is funny when you think about it. Especially when you consider the fact that the chatter out there for some time was that he was leaving Cleveland.

Ask yourself this and although the event was a fundraiser, one that generated $2.5 Million for the Boys & Girls Club, why would he hold an entire event just to announce he was coming back? That was an occasion for a reason, with that reason being his leaving.

Former NBA Commissioner David Stern urged ESPN to cancel the show and former ESPN president John Skipper says Stern was concerned the show would extend too much power to one player.

Well, David Stern was a genius as far as forecasting and setting the NBA up from a business and success standpoint. He practically nailed this one too, however, he was just slightly off.

While The Decision put that power on a pedestal and on full display for everyone across the world to see, the fact that LeBron could orchestrate that move in the period or era of the NBA that he did was him realizing, understanding, and using his power to the fullest of extents.

Yes, that displayed that LeBron was all-powerful, the most powerful NBA player, and one of the most powerful athletes ever, but it was also the moment in which professional athletes across the sports landscape realized how powerful they were.

Look, if you enjoy LeBron, the Miami Heat, or a good story, this is the show for you. Backstory: The Decision premieres Sunday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. We will see you there!