San Francisco (Obama.net)-
President Barack Obama is widely known as a basketball fan. An avid watcher of the National Basketball Association, (NBA) Obama is well aware of the importance of the pending free agency of the two-time and reigning NBA MVP LeBron James.
James, who has spent his entire career playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, just miles away from his lifetime home, Akron, Ohio. After bringing the team out of the pits, James led the team to multiple playoff appearances as well as an Eastern Conference Championship in 2007. That was followed by being swept by the San Antonio Spurs for the NBA Championship. Since that time, LeBron and his teammates have been unable to reach the NBA Finals again.
With his contract running out in a matter of days, James is on the verge of making his biggest decision yet: stay in Cleveland or seek a championship elsewhere. President Obama shared his thoughts on the situation.
A lifelong Chicago Bulls fan, Obama couldn’t help but promote the prospects of joining the Bulls. Obama said that he could “see LeBron fitting in pretty well there” with the likes of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
Also, while being interviewed in the White House on the basketball court, Obama said that he believes “the most important thing for LeBron right now is actually to find a structure where he’s got a coach that he respects and is working hard with teammates who care about him.”
Obama likened James’ situation to that of Chicago Bulls legend and current Charlotte Bobcats owner, Michael Jordan. Obama pointed out that Jordan didn’t win a championship until Scottie Pippen came along and that what James needs is his own version of a Scottie Pippen, a second elite player that can compliment James’ game. He also compared LeBron to Kobe Bryant, saying that even Kobe needed Shaquille O’Neal and currently has Pau Gasol. Obama said about Kobe, “he’s gotten that sense of a team around him and I think LeBron hasn’t quite been able to get that yet. That’s what he needs to find.”
While President Obama would love to see the league’s MVP play for his favorite team, he realizes that LeBron has a lot of thinking to do before he makes his choice. Obama’s entire interview can be seen Tuesday at 8pm EST on TNT.
If I were the Heat, I’d absolutely look at Shannon Brown. He won’t command a ton of salary but he’s athletic as all get out and can play some D and throw down dunks to fire up the crowd, as if they’ll need that..