But we've also never really heard any retirement talk from LeBron James before, so the Tuesday Newsletter Extravaganza explores some potential reasons why he went there after the Lakers' playoff exit
Marc, you're my favorite basketball writer so it's disappointing to see you lead with LeBron just like every other outlet. It's a good example of what's often wrong with coverage of #thisleague with all-star gossip/bs being prioritized over substance. The Nuggets were brilliant in this series and Jokic was transcendent, but everyone led with the LeBron news today. Y'all are getting played in the proces -- *of course* LBJ isn't going to retire, for the reasons you mention. (Equally awful: SI led with Melo's retirement over the Nuggets' sweep. GTFO.)
Tom Ziller stopped writing about Kyrie at one point, refusing to indulge in the nonsense. I wish more writers would do the same -- focus on the game, not the noise.
Don't like disappointing one of my favorite readers, but I would ask you to consider an alternative perspective. When a team's season ends, especially a team that is as newsworthy as LeBron's team, that's often an obvious time to laser in on them because they won"t be playing any longer. Denver will soon have the foremost stage in the sport to themselves (and obviously their Finals opponent) and I have a special feature planned during The Finals to spotlight them (and their opponent). I feel as though I've also been writing lots about Jokic and Co throughout the playoffs. NOT trying to slight them.
That makes sense, though I would agree more if LeBron actually did announce his retirement or seemed serious about considering it, as opposed to this seeming like one of his carefully-time plays for the reasons you described. LeBron has dropped enough of these bombs over the years that he's become the boy who cried wolf.
You definitely haven't slighted the Nuggets. Thanks for explaining and for the kind words!
Bonus fun fact: when I was a wee lad, I saw Dan Issel drop 22 as the Kentucky Colonels lost to Billy Cunningham and the Carolina Cougars at the University of Cincinnati Armory Fieldhouse. I later played on that court in graduate school, which was pretty cool. The Nuggets became my west coast team after Issel went there.
Can't even imagine seeing an ABA game in person or even on TV. I started learning about my beloved Buffalo Braves in '75ish ... but the merger season was really my first where I could understand a bit what was happening and started collecting Topps cards.
No- he just likes people to talk about him. He knew those comments would make us discuss his future. He still wants be apart of the talk even though his season is over.
Marc, you're my favorite basketball writer so it's disappointing to see you lead with LeBron just like every other outlet. It's a good example of what's often wrong with coverage of #thisleague with all-star gossip/bs being prioritized over substance. The Nuggets were brilliant in this series and Jokic was transcendent, but everyone led with the LeBron news today. Y'all are getting played in the proces -- *of course* LBJ isn't going to retire, for the reasons you mention. (Equally awful: SI led with Melo's retirement over the Nuggets' sweep. GTFO.)
Tom Ziller stopped writing about Kyrie at one point, refusing to indulge in the nonsense. I wish more writers would do the same -- focus on the game, not the noise.
Don't like disappointing one of my favorite readers, but I would ask you to consider an alternative perspective. When a team's season ends, especially a team that is as newsworthy as LeBron's team, that's often an obvious time to laser in on them because they won"t be playing any longer. Denver will soon have the foremost stage in the sport to themselves (and obviously their Finals opponent) and I have a special feature planned during The Finals to spotlight them (and their opponent). I feel as though I've also been writing lots about Jokic and Co throughout the playoffs. NOT trying to slight them.
Im a Nuggs fan and you do give Denver a fair shake.
That makes sense, though I would agree more if LeBron actually did announce his retirement or seemed serious about considering it, as opposed to this seeming like one of his carefully-time plays for the reasons you described. LeBron has dropped enough of these bombs over the years that he's become the boy who cried wolf.
You definitely haven't slighted the Nuggets. Thanks for explaining and for the kind words!
Bonus fun fact: when I was a wee lad, I saw Dan Issel drop 22 as the Kentucky Colonels lost to Billy Cunningham and the Carolina Cougars at the University of Cincinnati Armory Fieldhouse. I later played on that court in graduate school, which was pretty cool. The Nuggets became my west coast team after Issel went there.
Can't even imagine seeing an ABA game in person or even on TV. I started learning about my beloved Buffalo Braves in '75ish ... but the merger season was really my first where I could understand a bit what was happening and started collecting Topps cards.
No- he just likes people to talk about him. He knew those comments would make us discuss his future. He still wants be apart of the talk even though his season is over.