Time for LeBron to stay put

LeBron James is the single most polarizing topic in the world of sports.

It’s fascinating, because there’s never been a player so dominant in a prominent American sport who has had to prove himself to sports fans over and over and over again, regardless of his successes or failures.

Some people love him. Other people hate him. It’s about split 50/50 between his supporters and detractors. The debate is forever ongoing and his legacy is debated for hours on end.

To me? I think the guy is the best player in the world today, but I also think that he’s a showboat who would win more games if he were interested more on his own progression and less on the Hollywood glam and glitz of being a celebrity.

I’m not a fan, likely never will be, and I only preface that so that my biases about this topic are out in the open before we even get started.

But with that said, LeBron James does have a chance to earn my respect this summer if he does just one little thing. It’s time that the King quits being a coward and commits to a city – hopefully Cleveland – for the long-term and bring some calmness to his career.

What LeBron is doing right now is a travesty. It’s underreported – if not just outright ignored – because national media doesn’t have the guts to take on sports’ biggest star.

But James’ actions in the past few offseasons have shown cowardice in its rarest form, and it’s time that the supposed King picks his kingdom and settles there.

Let me explain. We all know by now that LeBron James is an Akron-born boy who lived the dream by being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. Likewise, we also know that LeBron never had adequate help with his hometown team, which prompted him to “take his talents to South Beach” and sign with Miami.

OK, now this is where the waters get murky.

In Miami, James won and had success. In four seasons with the Heat, LeBron took his team to the NBA Finals every single season. In two of those years, Miami ascended to the pinnacle and won the NBA Championship.

But somewhere on the line, LeBron got homesick and decided that he was getting tired of the beach – at least that’s what he said. The actuality is that his Miami Heat role players were getting old and the team wouldn’t have much of a chance to compete in the future. But that’s another story for another day.

So at the end of the 2013-14 NBA season, James got with a PR team, penned a heartfelt reunion letter, gave it to Sports Illustrated and announced his return to Cleveland.

The caveat?

It was a one-year deal, meaning that this summer he’s free to do and go as he pleases.

So let me explain this all for you in words that make more sense.

After going to Cleveland the first time and having little success, James wanted a hometown reunion, but didn’t fully trust management to put him and his teammates in a position to win.

So he is now signing one-year deals every summer as an insurance policy that he can leave the organization whenever he chooses if his demands aren’t met.

See, I have a problem with that.

It’s LeBron James’ job to PLAY for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it’s not his job to coach, pick the roster and dominate all of the basketball decisions within the building.

Rumors surfaced throughout the NBA Finals that James was not a fan of Cavaliers coach David Blatt. Other reports indicate that LeBron openly mocked Blatt during timeouts and in key situations.

He can do this, of course, because if Blatt calls him on his foolishness and nonsense, James and all of his yes-men will just pack up the ship and take their circus to another NBA city.

That’s the luxury of being an all-world talent. Organizations will give you one chance after another to prove yourself – to heck with the things that you’re doing off the playing field.

It’s not right. It’s not in the true spirit of athletics, and it’s not the way that things should be run in the world of modern-day professional sports.

With his free agent status in tow this summer, it’s time that LeBron James makes up his mind one way or another. It’s time that he either signs a long-term deal with the Cavaliers or leaves the team and signs a long-term deal with another city.

It’s time that he puts his trust into an organization, lays down some roots and finds a home.

All of this one-year deal stuff is bogus.

It’s holding a team hostage. It’s not something that Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or any of the great players before him would have done or even would have thought to do.

Of course, I fully expect LeBron to shun all of this advice and sign another one-year deal with Cleveland – to heck with what long-term chemistry does to an organization.

And then guess what?

Once that happens, we’ll be right back at this exact point this time next summer. James will be a free agent, the Cavs – or whatever team – will be captive by a man who just got done losing in the NBA Finals, and we will be right back at square one once more.

But what do I know?

I’m just a journalist.

He, after all, is the King.

A King that finishes second place a lot, sure.

But still a King indeed.