The NBA season is finally here and everyone who gives a darn about professional hoops has their eyes fixated on the Miami Heat (duh!). As we well know, there is no middle ground when it comes to why; either you’re excited to see three of the modern game’s most talented players take the court simultaneously, or you’re marred with jealous rage they’ve “taken their talents to South Beach”. 

More accurately, “The Big Three”, errr “The Triple Threat”, errr… (stay tuned for their official nickname release) have pooled their talents on Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami. Since I live a stone’s throw from the arena, let me begin by being fair: I am entirely biased. I saw Santa come down the chimney,  the Jeanie pop out of the lantern, and the Tooth Fairy land on my pillow the night James announced he was joining the Miami Heat (how’s that for honesty?).

However, I don’t think it’s my elation that has me confused as I sit through hours of over-dramatized coverage of the King James saga. As I listen to analysts accuse James of relinquishing a legacy “that would have surpassed that of Michael Jordan’s” (blah blah blah), I can’t help but wonder why everyone is so quick to assume he gives a darn about being exactly like Mike <insert: “I want to be like Mike” Gatorade commercial here>? Is it possible he’s far more concerned about his own life than he is about how someone else lived theirs <ghasp>?

These are, to be clear, the same analysts that before “The Decision” spent years arguing why James will never be as good as Jordan despite his residence in Cleveland (<ahem> Skip Bayliss). At best, the question of whether James is better than Jordan is filler on sports talk shows that are running low on material. At worst, it’s an extremely premature and trivial argument the world seems to want a twenty-five year old man to base his life around.  

At the end of the day, perhaps there is something to be said about playing a sport where he wants, when he wants, how he wants and with whom he wants. Perhaps there is something to be said for being simply “one of the best” of all time (oh no she didn’t!). Maybe playing on a NBA team with guys he’s dreamed of playing with in that capacity sounds fun to an athlete in his prime. Quite possibly living in Miami sounds like an exciting change for a young man who has earned the ability to live anywhere he wants. Perchance the possibility of filling his hands with rings sounds more appetizing than winning a couple of them on his own. Conceivably the fact that no one in history has made a decision like the one he has is alluring, not deterring. Maybe, just maybe, getting some help sounds like a nice change over bearing the expectations of the world on his shoulders night after night alone.

I recently read a book that highlighted the over whelming desire of my generation to choose an enjoyable career over a lucrative one using powerful statistics. The book suggested that my parents’ generation dedicated themselves to high demand and subsequently high paying jobs; while their children are more likely to turn away from the Fortune 100 job for an enjoyable home life. A strong argument could be made that because of the shift in mentality between generations, the definition of “success” needs to be modified. Perhaps success shouldn’t simply be defined by a paycheck or a fancy title; perhaps success also comes from having an enjoyable life and getting to do things your way.

By that definition, perhaps Lebron James is even more successful than his predecessors.  He’s unbelievably good at what he does and has created a brand that will follow him where ever he goes. However, now, he also has control. He is able to live where he wants, work with who he wants and do it all how he wants. He still gets the money and the fame without having to bear the responsibilities of the kingdom alone.

That’s the choice he made and can we really blame him? I’d rather live in Miami and work with some of my best friends, than live in Cleveland and go it alone (no offense Cleveland but you’re a little cold for my taste). I’d rather win often as a team, than win rarely as an individual. I’d rather share my glory and enjoy myself, than spend my career trying to live up to impossibly high expectations. If I was Lebron James, simply put, I’d simply be Lebron James (no Gatorade, we don’t want to be like Mike!).