NBA Finals | Oh, LeBron is great? Yeah, no kidding, where you been …

LeBron James slams home two of his 41 points Thursday night while leading Cleveland to a 115-101 victory in Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

by Jack Kerwin  |  [email protected]

Perception … it’s a funny thing.

Exactly a year ago on this date, the undermining of LeBron James’ greatness was back in full fury, fueled by zealots with the determination and focus usually reserved for those funding military objectives due to political agenda.

The dude was a bum. He wasn’t clutch. He lacked guts. Oh, sure, he put up some serious numbers in last year’s NBA Finals, but, push comes to shove, he just couldn’t win the big one. OK, yeah, his team was depleted, but, c’mon, a truly great player overcomes any obstacle.

They always get it done … no help needed. Ever.

Right? Yo, keep on livin’ that dream …

Fast forward to this morning. Following yet another brilliant individual effort in a Finals Game 6, 365 days removed from his last one, King James is being bestowed all-timer status again, even begrudgingly by some of his biggest and loudest detractors … because his Cleveland Cavaliers won this time.

It’s silly. Not because he deserves it … but because he always deserves it. Win or lose.

Not for nothing, but team success or not, James is always the best player on the floor. Game in. Game out. Night after night. Series after series. Doesn’t matter who the Cavs are playing. Doesn’t matter who was named league MVP. Doesn’t even matter if Steph Curry’s wife proclaims that the Finals are rigged or not.

The fact that so many are in such abject denial about that, and, in many cases, such vocal opponents to almost any positives being addressed to him … well, it just defies logic.

Yeah, got it. He’ll never be Michael. You’ll forever prefer Kobe – guess what, same here.

Reality, though, is that a case – gulp, a legit one – could be made that he is better than both. Even more so, this verdict has come in: he’s a far greater player than far, faaaar too many are willing to admit. In victory or defeat.

Is he really worthy of more support today than he was a year go? Back then, he averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists as the Cavs fell four games to two against the Golden State Warriors. Right now, he’s averaging 30.2, 11.3 and 8.5 through the same amount of games, with a winner-take-all finale set for Sunday in Oakland, Calif.

Yeah, no doubt he’s been more efficient. His shooting percentage is way up this time around. Then again, he’s also playing with a full complement of players around him now. Keep in mind, his primary right-hand help last year was Matthew Dellavedova. Now, while “Delly” may be a personal fave here, he’s not exactly an all-star, or even a starter for a healthy title-contending team – as evidenced by his two minutes played in Thursday night’s series-extending Cavs’ triumph.

Yeah, James tied an NBA record in the same game with his second straight 40-point effort in Finals competition, matching a mark previously set by Rick Barry, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and twice by Jerry West. He also scored 40 or more three times in last year’s Finals and his 32-18-9 effort in Game 6 stacks up quite well with Thursday’s 41-8-11 – only his Cavs didn’t win and force a Game 7.

It’s true. James and Cleveland are staring at history now. By beating Golden State in this year’s Game 6, they have an opportunity to do something no other squad ever has in the NBA Finals, overcome a 3-1 series deficit to win the whole damn thing.

It’s an opportunity for James to leapfrog in the perception ranks, from “not quite Jordan” or “short of Kobe” to “oh, shit, his titles won total is getting to the point where we have to acknowledge his greatness.” Which is great in a way, and really sad in another.

Because he shouldn’t need this opportunity to do so. He’s already proven his greatness many times over.

Would actually be nice if people just sat back and enjoyed watching it while it lasts … instead of bitching about whether or not it ever existed. Win or lose.

Not for nothing, but team success or not, James is always the best player on the floor. Game in. Game out. Night after night. Series after series. Doesn’t matter who the Cavs are playing. Doesn’t matter who was named league MVP. Doesn’t even matter if Steph Curry’s wife proclaims that the Finals are rigged or not. The fact that so many are in such abject denial about that, and, in many cases, such vocal opponents to almost any positives being addressed to him … well, it just defies logic. Yeah, got it. He’ll never be Michael. You’ll forever prefer Kobe – guess what, same here. Reality, though, is that a case – gulp, a legit one – could be made that he is better than both. Even more so, this verdict has come in: he’s a far greater player than far, faaaar too many are willing to admit. In victory or defeat.

---

SIDE NOTE

In addition to matching the back-to-back 40-point games record in NBA Finals competition previously shared by Jerry West (1965 and 1969), Rick Barry (1967), Michael Jordan (1993) and, Shaquille O'Neal (2000), LeBron James also tied an NBA double-double mark held by West, becoming only the second player ever to record 40 points and 10 assists in a Finals game with his 41-point, 11-assist outing Thursday night.