After LeBron James went out with a whimper in the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, the media launched another spring time assault on the “disappearance” of King James. That 2010-11 season was the first of the Big Three era in South Beach, yet James, who was in his eighth season, had lost his second Finals series, and was being questioned for the second playoffs in a row. Something needed to change.
James spent the following lockout summer at the most exclusive Big Man Camp in the world (aka, flying to Texas and working out with Hakeem Olajuwon). Over the years, we’ve seen video of various centers working with the two-time champion Olajuwon, whose post moves are incomparable in NBA history. But this was King James, the hybrid Malone/Magic/Michael specimen who needed to add a post game in order to fully dominate the small ball Miami Heat offense. What transpired that summer is why we have LeBron the Point-Guard/Forward/Center, rather than LeBron the Point-Forward. We are all witnesses.
