Despite LeBron James not being in the NBA Finals this year, here are three reasons why his absence is better for the league.
In the 2010s, there were very few NBA Finals that LeBron James wasn’t a part of. From 2010-2020 James has appeared in 9 Finals, a remarkable feat in its own right. Although his presence led to some great moments, some people were tired of seeing The King in the Finals. So this year’s matchup between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks provided a fresh look for the final stage of the season — one without LeBron James.
Having James out of the NBA Finals could be seen as a good thing. Too much of the something causes it to go stale, and people were growing numb to LeBron’s greatness. Having the 36-year-old at home for the Finals is better for the NBA for many reasons — but here are three.
3. No LeBron James keeps the G.O.A.T debate quiet
Almost every time LeBron has reached the Finals in recent years, the greatest of all-time debate rears its ugly head. People start discussing how a win or loss will impact his legacy or even bring up the famous Jordan/LeBron debate. Those debates are nice every once in a while, but LeBron has worn those conversations out because he’s reached the Finals so many times. People have posed the question, “what would these Finals mean for James’ career” so much, it’s lost its value.
James not participating allows the G.O.A.T debate to stay silent, even it’s just for a little bit. There aren’t any arguments over rings, play style, or questioning if LeBron (or Jordan) could play in the other’s era. We can watch basketball without the overhead of stumbling into a heated debate over who’s the best ever, thanks to James’ absence in the Finals.