Lebron wants $1 million to be in dunk comp

[fgrep15]

o come on u kno hes a good dunker. hes top 3 in most dunks per game and hes a guard. and to say that he doesnt make nice dunks is jus stupid. i hope u saw him pull a giant facial on damon jones a couple days ago cause that was one of the nicest dunks ive seen in game... and that can be considered in traffic cause he literally jumped OVER damon jones

he doesnt hav to be MJ and pull a FT dunk in game to be good, giv him some respect

Lebron isn't that good a dunker, he's not creative, in a contest, their's many players in the league that would beat him. He's good in game, but when alone on the break he still only does the mighty one hander.

[VCFAN]

Lebron is a good dunker but isn't on the same level in my opinion as Mason, Carter, J-Rich, from what Ive seen him do so far. I mean Carter has dunks that just make u want to jump off your chair and celebrate. Maybe Bron has stuff that he is saving for the dunk comp I dont know but from what Ive seen all his dunks are just the same one handed dunk or maybe an ugly windmill. He can jump very high and probably has the potential to be a great dunker, I just haven't seen it yet. He did a through the legs in the rookie game but it wasn't that special. Brons through the legs weren't as good as Masons and Carters in their dunk comps.

Dealing with the one million dollars he wants to participate in the dunk comp. I find it hard to believe he would ask that seeing how positive his image is. He rarely says something ignorant or cocky, so unless I have another source I wont believe he asked for a million.

[J-Smoove]

what a fucking moneywhore. he's rich as hell and wants more.

hopefully what you guys have been saying by he priced himself out of it. it'll be a shame to fans if it wasn't.

[Jay-Peso]

This is not how I thought LeBron was when it came to these types of situations.

Anyways, he does not need the money and I don't have a clue why he'd want the money to just participate in the contest. IMO, he should just do it for the satisfaction of possibly winning or just being in the competition competing.

[Amphatoast]

Man, everyone jumping on LeBron because he asked for money. Here he is
-20 years old
-MVP Canidadate
-2nd year
-top 5 player in the league ( or somewhere there)
-turning a franchise around
-played for the USA in the Olympics
-Living up and beyond the hype which was just way over board
- has a child
- Rookie Challenge
- All Star Game Starter
- 25/7/7 a night ( close to many triple doubles)
- around 40min a game

I think with all of this, he might say no to a dunk contest..just too much additional stuff on him. As much as he loves basketball theres limits and the wear and tear it has on your body. But since many wanted him there last year ( rookie year! plus rookie game! plus playing hard everynight
impressing the world!) I think he doesn't want to just say NO and and not even give it a try.
"Just give me a million and ill do it for the fans although i am extremely exausted from a long summer and year now plus a child to take care of now"
i think it's pretty fair
also consider how he is being used by the NBA
He is supposingly the new face of the league, taking over Kobe's position ( the trial stuff hurt him)
Greed for money? Nah, what he is getting paid for he is working hard to not disappoint. Resting would be a good thing, but for money he will play. give the kid a break, he is doing so much and is only on a rookie contract.

[bishibashiboy]

I think it's pretty obvious Lebron just doesn't want to do it.

Just like MJ in 89 and 90 when he told Rod Thorn to up the $$$. The problem that time was that he actually DID call MJ's bluff.

Interesting to see what would happen if they did the same with Lebron.

[Amphatoast]

well in comparing MJs first 2 years to lebron, i think lebron has a lot more going on.

[.]

Man, everyone jumping on LeBron because he asked for money. Here he is
-20 years old
-MVP Canidadate
-2nd year
-top 5 player in the league ( or somewhere there)
-turning a franchise around
-played for the USA in the Olympics
-Living up and beyond the hype which was just way over board
- has a child
- Rookie Challenge
- All Star Game Starter
- 25/7/7 a night ( close to many triple doubles)
- around 40min a game

I think with all of this, he might say no to a dunk contest..just too much additional stuff on him. As much as he loves basketball theres limits and the wear and tear it has on your body. But since many wanted him there last year ( rookie year! plus rookie game! plus playing hard everynight
impressing the world!) I think he doesn't want to just say NO and and not even give it a try.
"Just give me a million and ill do it for the fans although i am extremely exausted from a long summer and year now plus a child to take care of now"
i think it's pretty fair
also consider how he is being used by the NBA
He is supposingly the new face of the league, taking over Kobe's position ( the trial stuff hurt him)
Greed for money? Nah, what he is getting paid for he is working hard to not disappoint. Resting would be a good thing, but for money he will play. give the kid a break, he is doing so much and is only on a rookie contract.

One Million dollars! The winner of the thing doesnt even get that amount. I dont really care who he is or how he is doing or what he has achieved. I like Lebron James, but asking for a million dollars or a dunk contest is a bit to much. Now I know why they call him King James. If he would promise the fans that if they payed him the sick amount, that he would show dunks that no one has ever seen before....well, its still not worth it. His dunks are good, but not worth 1.000.000 dollars. Its not just because its LeBron, if it would be my favorite player I would have the same reaction. Asking for 1.000.000 dollars for 2 / 4 dunks is way over the limit.

[Fresh8]

Yo Amphatoast... tanks for pointing out LeBron's present credentials...

[8-Hype]

Stupid fuck, who does he think he is.
I hope the league refuses to pay him.
Anyways, he wouldn't have won it.

Oh, man, finally somebody agrees.

they removed the rule i think.
Since ricky davis was in teh dunk contest last year.

That's what I just wanted to say.

how many of you knew Fred Jones was such a good dunker before he won the contest?

Before the contest he wasn't, and so he wasn't after.

well in comparing MJs first 2 years to lebron, i think lebron has a lot more going on.

Because it was 20 years ago. Just compare the 1985 and 2004 Slam Dunk Contest... there's a lot more 'hype' in this world now.

That Bastard!

Thats jus pathetic.

I don't think he would win anyways

so greedy!

You dont see him dunking in traffic too much like kobe does.

what a fucking moneywhore.

I knew this motherfucking snob some day would do something like this.

[Chris_23]

Damn if LeBron will become another of those hyped kids who goes up and then goes down so damn hard that Cavs will remember that slump for the rest of their franchise...

"well in comparing MJs first 2 years to lebron, i think lebron has a lot more going on."

You havent seen MJ play these years, Id bet my salary...

Actually LeBron has got a nice stain on his image now that he declared his "terms". Like the money he has is not enough...

Hopefully he'll learn from his mistake, like its really hard to go and do more for his fans. I mean come on, out for the money... Christ...

[Amphatoast]

so true i never say MJ's first 2 years, i dont think i was born lol..

but look he was done sooo much for the fans man
he went to the olympics
he went to the rookie game last year
all start this year
rookie again this year
man yminutes this year even with the mask

all that for the fans...plus the dunks he does in games

[John WB]

Well, its for himself too.

[Drex]

Is this thing confirmed?? Did he really asked for a million dollars?

[8-Hype]

Is this thing confirmed?? Did he really asked for a million dollars?

Yes:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/278111p-238307c.html

[Drex]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/278111p-238307c.html

You never know with this NY media.
Maybe he just doesn't want to go to the contest. I don't think he would've won it anyway. Andre will

[8-Hype]

I don't think he would've won it anyway. Andre will

Andre Who? Andre Miller?

[8-Hype]

Sorry for the double post, I somehow can't edit my last post.

well in comparing MJs first 2 years to lebron, i think lebron has a lot more going on.

As I said... MJ's times were 20 years ago without the whole hype from today. But just have a look at the rookie season:

Queen James:

20.9 PPG
5.5 RPG
5.9 APG
1.65 SPG

His Airness:

28.2 PPG
6.5 RPG
5.9 APG
2.39 SPG

And MJ's third season:

37.1 PPG
5.2 RPG
4.6 APG
2.88 SPG

[Drex]

No, Andre Hatah

[Chris_23]

Come on guys, if someone tells me that LeBron is going to be the next MJ, then I exclude him straight from the category of serious NBA basketball fan. Period.

I have great respect for the guy (which decreased because the lad asked for a million for a dunk comp, wha?), but seriously the hype and media "hoping" for the next great player is just painting the wrong image of the player. Weve seen this dozens of times before.

It needs much much more than just hype to go that far. LeBron is one of the best players in the league, in overall skills perhaps even in top ten, but does it matter? No certainly not.

But its obvious that LeBrons bandwagon is filled with those who havent seen MJ play, nor Magic nor Bird, the three greats from the golden period of the league (80s-90s). Bird and Magic began all the hype in the league, Michael reached heights no one ever could have imagined not just with his play but with his persona and mentality and leadership.

Then NBA hit a slump. 99-00 was a great one still, even with the shortened season, but then year after year the league went down and down in views.

So now comes LeBron, something to hype up. Forgetting the other great players in the league from the previous period (Im sure the 90s-2000s transition will affet the history the most, for so many great players will be forgotten in the long run). James can play real good, but if anyone really can remember the 97-98 season where people talked about how important it would be for Michael to remain for just one more league... Anyone remembers? People talked about how important it is for Kobe, to take the tortch and move on. Kobe was a star in 98 all star game, yet Michael burned Kobe in defence so strong, so masterfully. Magic said that its important for MIchael to remain as Kobe needs to step up against Michael, to really grab the torch and move the league forward as the leading symbol of the league.

That never happened.

Then this 40 year old man returned as a wizard and burned the stars of today, if not so completely, then at least lighting fiery flames here and there showing that this isnt just about skill, nor hype nor the way you actually play the ball. Its about the challenge, mentally, as a leader and as an icon. This is something that may never happen again. This one instance of near-perfection. Throughout knowledge of the game we all love.

Now this causes another row of flaming and people saying "look at LeBrons numbers..."

This is not about numbers

If it were Id be pasting here Michaels statistics comparison to that of LeBrons.

But no, this is not about numbers. Its about the game.

There will never be another Michael Jordan. Good players yes for sure, and Im sure some other player will be named by many as the greatest of all time. Time itself does the work, people need magic, and even if not worth it, some day someone else will be named as the best ever. This adds magic and thrill to the league, which people need. People need this to feel that they live in a special era, something they have seen and none who gone before have experienced.

But no, there will never be another Michael Jordan.

So anyone who comes to my face and says something even similar to this, loses my respect as a long time basketball fan. Dont care if it matters to you or not.

[#12]

do you all actually believe this is true.\? what kind of source is the NY daily news? they have no rep. If it was from NY times(or whatever its called) then it could be true

[Jackal]

So anyone who comes to my face and says something even similar to this, loses my respect as a long time basketball fan. Dont care if it matters to you or not.

No one is saying he's going to be the next Jordan. There can't be a next anyone, LeBron's got his own legacy, he won't be the next Mike, Kobe or T-Mac, he'll just be LeBron. Likewise for any "next" slotted players.

On to Mr. Tricky,

Calm down Bitchy Davis, they aren't even close to saying he's the next MJ. That's Mr. Bryant, remember?

Whatever LeBron's achieved at the age of what, 18-19, is amazing. I don't think MJ was 19 orso in his rookie season. In all seriousness, I'm still awestruck with this guy, so young, so hyped, so much money yet he keeps his head leveled & just kicks ass day in & day out. The scariest part is exactly that, he's just 19 orso. He's so young, it's his second season and he's averaging close/near to a triple double. It's been awhile since we've seen that kind of a performance.

So he doesn't want to go for the dunk competition, big fuckin deal, no need to be calling him Queen James & shit like that, he's still better than Ricky Davis on any other day. What's Ricky Davis? If I had the choice at the moment I'd pick Bron over Bryant. Just imagine how he'll be in another 3-4 years. Sure, he might not be the greatest, MJ, but he's amazing. Calling him names & putting him down won't change that fact.

You couldn't edit your post? Seems a bit strange to me. You know why it seems even more strange? That little linky in your sig, "55th most important person on the forum". Trust me, coming from the person with the second highest post count, it means jack-shit. But in your case, it's a step further, you can get a gazillion & one posts and you'll still be worth zilch, get over yourself.

Let me take a wild guess,

"It's just a joke, sheesh."

Accurate?

[Chris_23]

Well Jackal, dont know about you but about every other LeBron fan says that "he may become the next MJ".

He has potential for sure but you really should play with the age factor here. Remember that Larry Bird came to the league as 23 (or was it 24 year old). So did most of the rookies at that time. Mike came in as a 21 year old. Mike scored 51 being 39 years old. Age isnt the factor here.

Experience however is.

Magic came in 20 years old. Scored 42 points from Centre position in the finals, as a twenty year old. Seen LeBron doing something like that?

Experience is the real factor, age not really so. In fact of all the players who have decided to coem early in the league, how many have really hit the spot four or five years after their rookie season? Not many, Kobe for one example, but Kobe was actually a bright kid, educated and was a smart kid. LeBron is a smart kid also, but hey, time will tell.

Too many have been marked as the next bandwagon-star. And far too many of them have crashed during their first quarter of their career. At one point or another.

One other thing, how did the players really become greats? Magic and Bird and MJ and Russell or Isiah Thomas and such? Through pain and hard work. There is not a single player in the league with as much emotional involvement as these players I just named. Magic? Remember him? Like a kid on court, but playing like a veteran star. Or MJ with his first title? Or Isiah Thomas?

You need to lose and you need to lose hard. If not lose in games then in your mental condition. This is something that hasnt hit LeBron yet. Its a shameful truth but people learn more of themselves through suffering than through actual success.

Insulting LeBron with names like Queen James is also shameful and stupid. He doesnt deserve that.

But he is no King yet. I have respect for the guy, and hopes for the future to show us things the masters before him never did, in his own way, in his own time. Ive had respect for many young players in the league, god how much I enjoyed Grant Hill and his intelligent play and his rough road to where he is now. And how much I love his game even more now than before. Its not about numbers that a player posts you see...

Im hoping for LeBron to do something special. 43 points (32 running-clock) is not really something special yet.

Im not the fan of stats but his airness had seven post 40 games in his rookie-green season. And 63 in playoffs in the next, season that was hard on youngster because of his heavy injury. 36 post 40 points the next season. Also those who love to draw parallels, yes there is one similiarity. Both LBJ and MJ turned the franchise around and were the main-goto-guys of their teams.

But as Ive said before, this isnt about stats. LBJ needs to become a great player without laying eyes on stats. This requires more than just talent or potential.

I do however hope that LeBron manages to bring NBA out of this slump. Kobes and Shaqs divorce has given a good basis for miami-lakers game was just awesome. But where it really goes in the end I do not know. Next year or two will really tell where LeBron might reach in longer perspective.

[bchogan]

I agree with those of you questioning the validity of the NY Daily News' "LeBron wants a million" blurb. They tend to be sensationalistic in their "journalism." I also don't know if the 3 yrs or less rule is still in effect. I read that interview that the took the VC quote from, and he was asked if he would ever participate in another slam dunk contest (which he said he might if he's 100% healthy). If the 3 yr rule was still in effect, someone hasn't told VC or the reporter. Although, in fairness, the NBA seems to change the dunk rules on a whim, so who knows what the rules will be for this year or any future year. Remember when they cancelled the dunk comp. after screwing with the rules too much? And replaced it with that crappy "two ball?"
For whether LeBron's agood dunker or not, I have to say that when he won the McDonald's H.S. dunk comp., he won definitively. His dunks weren't all that creative, but he got up so high, dunked with power and did it effortlessly, that there was no compairison to the other dunkers. Granted, it's not the NBA. I do remember one guy, though, that did a 360 from a step or two inside the ft line that was pretty nasty, but I think he drew a doughnut on his first attempt, or something, so he had no chance to win. And whoever LeBron went up against in the final bowed out on his last attempt, 'cause he had a broken bone in his foot that he aggravated (or so he said).
I just hope we see a lot of creativity, and a lot of makes this year. Nothing sucks more than missed dunks, especially in the final round. Amare is the only one I've heard of that's accepted the invite. He's got some power dunks, but I don't think he's got the creativity to win. He's also 6'10", and I feel it isn't as impressive to see taller guys dunk .

[cyanide]

If it's true, then that's bullshit. He already has way too much - but for now, I'd rather wait for other sources that confirm this.