NBA: The Alpha Mentality
According to Kevin Love, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in a rather peculiar place and many would be inclined to agree. Coming off of three straight trips to the NBA Finals and winning it all in record fashion, the Cavaliers now find themselves in basketball purgatory.
A purgatory that 28 other teams would love to be in, sans the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, but a purgatory nonetheless. As currently constructed, Cleveland is built well enough to run through the Eastern Conference with seemingly relative ease, but not quite well enough to topple the Warriors.
No one on the Cavs would ever dare to agree, but it is a reality they must face. Sports and basketball in particular, are all built upon egos and individuality. We wear their shoes, watch their commercials, see their likeness in video games, and read tweets directed at them no matter how mean.
Despite the individualistic nature of basketball, it's also what makes the game so compelling. We've all heard the saying, “you aren't playing for the name on the back, you're playing for the name on the front.” While the saying is true, in the NBA, it is the individuals who have pushed the league in the direction of immense popularity.
Basketball separates itself in the sense that a singular talent can be the difference between winning and never even coming close. At the forefront of it all is LeBron James, the NBA’s greatest talent and still, its brightest star. James is arguably, one of the top three most recognizable athletes in the world, only rivaled by the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
And to give James the benefit, football is also the most popular sport on the planet. With James’ immense popularity comes with a shadow that casts over every corner and crevice of downtown Cleveland, not just Quicken Loans Arena. LeBron is known as “The King” for a reason; he's been on the throne since his high school days at St. Vincent St. Mary's and has yet to relinquish his title, and there's doubt that he ever will.
Insert Kyrie Irving, Cleveland's dynamic point guard who is easily one of the most skilled players in the league. Also known as “Uncle Drew,” Irving has made it his goal to get buckets and he does it with the best of them. Irving has emerged as a star in his own right who has enough talent to cast his own shadow.
To relegate Irving to James' sidekick, would be a huge disservice to Uncle Drew’s almost innate abilities. King James would never call Irving a Robin to his Batman, that's for others to decide, there’s only one problem, James isn't Batman. He is a superhuman in the basketball world, who at age 32, has shown no signs of slowing down.
James knows his days are numbered but until there's a sharp decline, he will be The Association's best player. In knowing there isn't much time left, James has been molding Irving to take on the mantle as the sole leader of Cavs, but if reports are true, Irving has other plans.
With the constant trade talks, the front office doing as little as possible to close the chasm between the Cavaliers and the Warriors, and LeBron’s supposed departure after his contract is up, Irving is looking for stability. According to reports by ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski, Irving asked to be traded to place his destiny in his own hands, and just days later, the Cavaliers signed 2011 MVP Derrick Rose, who could be Irving's replacement.
In an era dominated by buddy ball and teaming up to win championships, it is Irving who sees things differently. No longer willing to accept a lesser role, Irving wants to be the face of a franchise, not to be billed as the No. 2 option, as his jersey would suggest.
Uncertainty consistently looms over Cleveland and the only thing that seems certain for the Cavaliers, is another trip to the Finals, and for Irving, that isn't enough. Any player not named LeBron James is expendable. A few bad nights and you can find yourself in trade talks or the subject of alleged passive aggressive social media posts. On the outside looking in, Cleveland only seems truly great for LeBron. After all, it was James who built “The Land” into what it is today.
Other players around the league can't fathom why anyone would want to leave. Playing alongside James comes with benefits many can only dream of. Shoe contracts, contract extensions, endorsements, and unlimited trips to the NBA Finals. However, if you had to ask anyone cut from Kyrie’s cloth, it was hard work that got them the fruits of their labor, not simply James.
I'd argue LeBron would say the same but that's not how the world sees it. Irving is willing to trade it all for a change of scenery, a chance to be No. 1, a chance to write his own story and the chance to have his name etched alone in the history books. Kobe Bryant had to prove he wasn't just some sidekick and went on to win two titles as the face of the Los Angeles Lakers.
As great as Scottie Pippen was, he's forever known as “Michael Jordan's teammate,” something Irving is definitely trying to avoid. Playing with James has it's perks, but egos and personal goals do exist within the team narrative. Kyrie Irving sees greatness in his future, the same way LeBron James saw and still sees greatness in his.
If anything, playing alongside James helped shaped the narrative of wanting more. The path to the top isn't one that’s taken alone but the one who is seen first is always remembered most. Kyrie Irving wants to be seen first and there's nothing wrong with that.
Photo Credit: SB Nation and USA Today.
