Los Angeles Lakers: The conscience growth of LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers forward, LeBron James, has shown great growth throughout his NBA career.

So how did we get here Los Angeles Lakers fans? How did the greatest superstar of this NBA generation become a member of the purple and gold? For some, it still has yet to sink in, but LeBron James is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and the 4th quarter of his career has begun.

Could this be the beginning of the end? In a sense, yes, it is, but it’s also the second phase of a dominant voice. Consistently over the last few years, James’ voice has grown in strength, stature and economic prowess, which makes his move out west, his jump to the Lakers, even more resounding.

LeBron James was always that transcendent superstar, the one that would carry the torch passed down my MJ himself; sorry Kobe Fans….but the truth must be documented.

Once his fourth quarter comes to a close LeBron James will be considered, statistically, as the greatest player the NBA has ever seen. But lurking behind all of the pomp and circumstance, the flashiness of the chase down block, the power and destruction of the breakaway slam dunk, is a man, who at his core, understands that his voice is equal to or greater than the skill that he displays on the court night after night.

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Already a handful of times this past NBA offseason James has displayed the maturation of his voice via touching on a variety of topics. The latest of which was his brother in the NIKE Family Colin Kaepernick.

Unless one has lived under a rock then it should be known that Colin Kaepernick has been the most polarizing athlete in the world for the last three years. With his stand on kneeling for the Nation Anthem being manipulated and contorted for all of the wrong reasons, the United States has been split down the middle in this, Trump’s America, on the support, or lack thereof, shown towards and against Kaepernick.

Few high-profile athletes have rallied to defend the Martyr to some and a pariah to others. However, there was LeBron, making a silent statement that was as loud and boisterous as 45. The difference, however, being the silent one this time was cloaked by the light of truth, while the other was illuminated by the lies of the ignorant and the miseducation of the gullible.

With Nike recently making Kaepernick the face of their 30th anniversary ad campaign LeBron James spoke of his support of the Kaepernick selection.

"“I stand with anyone who believes in change..and I stand with Nike every day, all day,” said James"

During another venture this past offseason, James was again his candid self while participating in a partnership with HBO and the series The Shop. The Shop offers America another look into the complex mind of James and also his growth in front of the camera.

There, James took the time to field many questions, one being how he explained to his children the ramifications of his LA home being vandalized the day before Game 1 of the 2017 NBA FInals. The racial slur Nigger was spray-painted on the front gate of the said property.

"“When I decided I was going to start speaking up and not giving a … about the backlash or if it affects me, my whole mind-set was ‘It’s not about me’,” said James, adding he was influenced by thoughts of his own sons. “My popularity went down. But at the end of the day, my truth to so many different kids and so many different people was broader than me personally.”“No matter how big you can become in America,” James continued, “no matter how much influence you think you got or do have, if you’re African American, it doesn’t matter.”"

With Showtime not to be outdone by HBO, James and his business partner Maverick Carter will premiere the documentary Shut Up and Dribble courtesy of Showtime Sports and Spring Hill Entertainment on November 3rd.

Per Fox8 Cleveland.

"The series traces the modern history of the league and its players starting with the 1976 merger of the freewheeling American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association, how the top players have expanded their notoriety off the court in fields such as business and fashion while becoming icons in the process."

FIRST LOOK at #ShutUpAndDribble!

Save the Date: November 3 at 9/8c on @Showtime ✔️ @KingJames @MavCarter @GothamChopra @Common @CraigHodgesNBA @JemeleHill pic.twitter.com/JtO3u7EEO5
— SpringHill (@makespringhill) October 1, 2018

Again, another complexity of the growth of the conscience of one LeBron James. With that said, the city of Los Angeles will offer James the largest platform to date.

Yes, he was a member of the 3-time NBA Champion Miami Heat and yes he won a highly disputed championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, however, the Lakers are on a completely higher echelon. With a total of 16 NBA Championships, the second-most in league history, the Los Angeles Lakers have a clout that only the Boston Celtics and their 17 Championships can match.

Now under the guidance of team president Magic Johnson, James has the opportunity to continue to grow his brand, his conscience on and off of the court. Who better to show James the unbelievable growth potential in the City of Angels than Johnson, who has amassed one of, if not the greatest off the court/field portfolio of any professional athlete.

Despite having retired for a final time in 1996, Johnson’s voice still carries the gravitas of an athlete still in his prime and his business acumen to date is unmatched. Considered by many as the prototype to LeBron’s on court style of play, Johnson now carries that role with James’s current and future off the court ventures. Simply put, James’s decision to sign with the Lakers was the most important/influential move of his NBA career.

Make no mistake about it. This is the final chapter, the 4th quarter in the career of LeBron James and his growth on and off of the court has been astounding. Not many have been christened as the King before stepping foot on an NBA court and has lived up to expectations. Oddly enough, James didn’t live up to those expectations, he surpassed them at every turn.

Now in this era, the end, he has his eye on the bigger prize, something the likes of Kobe Bryant and other Lakers greats have yet to reach. A Mount Rushmore, if you will, that’s home to Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson.

One day LeBron James’ likeness will be etched onto that mount which will feature the NBA’s All-Time Greats. However, it won’t reflect their careers on the court but rather showcase their careers and mental prowess off of the court.