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LeBron James has been the NBA’s leading man for at least a decade now. And for the past six years, he’s also ruled the Eastern Conference with an iron fist and played in a record six straight NBA Finals.
Basically, you have to beat LeBron to reach the NBA’s peak. It’s something James is aware of. Per cleveland.com, LeBron says that other teams in the league form a certain way in an order to beat him.
"I know teams switch and pick up new coaches or new players, and their whole goal is kind of they want to beat me," James told cleveland.com, in a candid discussion about the upcoming year and his place in the sport at age 31, in this his 14th season. "It's never just about me, but I always hear them saying, 'We gotta beat LeBron.' It's not just me on the court, but I understand that teams get together in this conference and across the league to try to beat me."
In the article, James also notes that when he left Cleveland, he was looking to form a team with other All-Stars to try and beat the Boston Celtics. He, of course, formed a ‘Big Three’ with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, winning two titles in the process. When he came back to Cleveland, it only made sense because the Cavs already had a young star in Kyrie Irving and were also able to acquire Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James’ assertion that teams form to beat him is also correct. When it comes to the East and the NBA, teams have to account for LeBron and have plans to beat him. To win a title, you have to be prepared to beat LeBron. It’s that simple.