LeBron o swojej Decyzji

LeBron James udzielił wywiadu angielskiemu The Guardian. Jest to bardzo obszerny wywiad, w którym LeBron opowiedział między innymi o swoim pobycie w Londynie, o Liverpoolu, o porażce z Mavs, o The Decision i Heat, a także o lockoucie. Pełen wywiad znajdziecie tutaj, a poniżej zamieszczam tylko kilka najciekawszych fragmentów.

Q: The screening of ‘The Decision’ hurt you and your image – were you surprised by the bitterness of the reaction?

LBJ: Um, yeah, but I can understand it. I was surprised by it because I was making a decision for myself. I was doing something that I believed was going to make me happy and freshen me up, personally. But looking back at it now I can understand why a lot of people were upset. That definitely wasn’t my intention: to upset people. My intention was to go and play for a team, play for a franchise, that believe in me, and I believe in them.

Q: You told me when I last interviewed you that creativity and entertainment were central to your brand – was this part of the reason why you chose to screen ‘The Decision’…as an attempt to make people feel compelled by the announcement of your future?

LBJ: No. For me, my thinking was built around those kids who were going to be benefitting from me making this decision, all these underprivileged kids that would get the millions and millions of dollars that I would receive and pass straight back to their communities – to build gymnasiums and recreation centres and libraries and to give computers to these kids so they could better themselves on a day-by-day basis in both sports and life – or whatever dream that they had. That was my whole motivation when this idea was brought to me. I was very excited about being able to provide for these kids.

Q: Did you feel vindicated by the way that Dan Gilbert [Cleveland's majority owner] responded?

LBJ: I didn’t need that to vindicate my decision. I think Dan Gilbert was talking out of anger. And I don’t take anything personal. As a professional athlete a lot is going to be said about you – but I just try to move forward and try to achieve my goals.

Q: You’ve been quoted as saying it’s not impossible you could play for Cleveland again?

LBJ: It’s not impossible [smiling]

Q: But unlikely?

LBJ: It’s not impossible [laughs]. I still love the city. I have so many great memories of all those fans – so it’s not impossible.

Q: But great players before you, from Magic Johnson to Larry Bird to Michael Jordan, all seem to have said that they would never have wanted to team up with their rivals

LBJ: Right, right.

Q: Do you think their argument has no substance – because the game has changed so much?

LBJ: Um…well I believe that when Magic was drafted to the Lakers he had Kareem and, as the team was built, James Worthy was part of that team, as was Jamaal Wilkes, and Bob McAdoo….so he had four Hall of Famers right there on his team. And Jordan went through his bumps and bruises coming up with Chicago but they were eventually able to draft Scottie Pippen and then they got Horace Grant – two great players – and then they got Dennis Rodman – another Hall of Famer. So that team was built for Jordan. Same with Larry Bird. He had Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Danny Ainge – all great players. And eventually Bill Walton went to the Celtics. So I know the history of the game. Individuals get a lot of the spotlight. But there’s never just been one individual who has done it by himself. You can go all the way back to when Oscar Robinson dominated at a high level and he was averaging triple-doubles season after season. But it was not until he teamed up with Kareem that he was able to win a championship. Same thing goes with Jerry West. Not a lot of people know that Jerry West went to the finals nine times and lost the first eight times. He won it at his ninth try.