Cut LeBron? Really?
Posted December 8th, 2006 by bwindhorst
Henry Abbott, who runs perhaps the best NBA blog on the web in Truehoop, broke this story today about LeBron James. If you don’t want to go to the link, Henry has had several sources tell him at least three USA Basketball coaches wanted to cut LeBron James after the first few days of Team USA training camp last summer in Las Vegas. Henry reports they were overruled by Jerry Colangelo.
I was in Vegas during that training camp and the media were not granted access to the practices. I do remember being told by several sources that James didn’t "look too good" in the first few days of practices but turned it around quickly. I thought I wrote about this briefly at the bottom of a story (I can’t find the link at this moment), though I never thought he was ever close to being cut. He must’ve turned it around because by the end of camp Mike Krzyzewski named LeBron one of the captains and then praised him all during my three weeks in Japan. Of course, we all know Coach K doesn’t exactly give the straight dope all the time.
What I do know is that in Phoenix back in January I had a very good conversation with Colangelo, who I think generally has done an excellent job putting USA Basketball back together, the night it was announced LeBron would be part of the team. He made it pretty clear at the time, though not for the record, that LeBron’s place on the team, as well as Kobe’s and a few other select players, was not in doubt even though all players were going to "try out." Also, LeBron told me that if he were cut he would probably not play the next two summers.
I trust Henry’s sources are accurate, I believe he confirmed it with those who were there. It is not really breaking news today, but it is interesting for sure. I also know that, in general, LeBron has always been a good teammate and he was praised for being a good teammate during the worlds by the coaches and players I talked to. But I also know from eight years of knowing him, that on occasion LeBron can be moody and can pout, perhaps he had an episode for a little while in Vegas.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I once was cut from my highschool basketball team. It really hurt, and I didn’t play the next 2 summers. I am glad they didn’t cut LeBron or else he might end up in my church Wednesday night pickup league and he would be tough to gaurd.
December 9th, 2006 at 9:24 am
I wouldn’t doubt that LeBron gets a little full of himself at times but these kind of stories always make me wonder about the “unnamed sources with firsthand knowledge” that are invariably cited.
Whether the story is true or not, what would motivate those sources to circulate such a vague story at this point in time? And why not do some legwork and try and confirm the story, if it’s worth repeating?
December 9th, 2006 at 10:18 am
larry, that’s exactly what i wrote on henry’s blog. i asked henry why he was running what us essentially a rumor. there was no link to anything, such as on-the-record comments. it was just a rumor put out there. and the other thing i asked in my comment was why didn’t henry at least identify his sources as what they were in the team USA basketball hierarchy, such as “senior official,” etc. like you would get in poltical reporting where you have to use anonymous sources. it seems kinda lame to me.
unfortunately, henry has declined to answer these questions over at his blog, so i guess we’ll be left to wonder.
look, i’m not saying that LBJ doesn’t have his moody moments but EVERY on-the-record comment from coaches and teamamtes through his b-ball life so far have ALL said what a damn good teammate he is. and the fact that he lead team USA in assists is further EVIDENCE that the guy’s a team player.
i love truehoop and think henry’s a damn fine blogger but i am very puzzled and somewhat disappointed by his posting of this “story.” but i certainly welcome more feedback on this topic from henry and/or brian here, if they’d care to give it.
December 9th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
That story is pretty lame kj, though I guess it’s natural to look to LeBron when trying to figure out how the Cavs can seem so lethargic at times.
Maybe Allen Iverson could inject some energy into the team. He’s a great competitor and I can’t see a team with him and LeBron going through too many hangdog funks.
The Sixers would probably take a top five center and legitimate point guard for Iverson. Too bad the Cavs are fresh out.
December 11th, 2006 at 5:29 am
I wish LeBron had been cut. He would have been more motivated and, more importantly, rested for this season. There are some nights when he definitely looks tired from all of the basketball he’s played in the last year. I’m hoping he decides to get married or something so that he has an excuse to skip USA basketball this summer.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
i agree tom , that playing for team USA has clearly taken it’s toll but i think that LBJ is trying to rest here and there during the season and then trying to turn it on for the playoffs. we can debate all day whether it’s a good strategy or not but i think that’s what he doing and is going to continue to do.
on the bright side, i do think he’s passing is tremendous this year and people actually seem to be stepping up this year, ilgauskaus excepted, of course. so, ultimately, having LBJ take less shots ans be more of a playmaker, like he was against toronto, is a good thing in the long run, IMHO…
December 11th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
sorry for the typos!!
December 14th, 2006 at 7:27 am
Good stuff, BW. I read a story a couple of weeks ago by Sam Smith in the Chicago Tribune in which he wrote that BronBron got under the skin of Bruce Bowen during the summer when both were members of team USA for never saying “hello” or “thank you.” It seems like minor stuff, but Smith, one of the top writers on the NBA, thought enough of it to mention it in a story.