Not here. Never. Not in my backyard.
That’s the typical reaction from LeBron haters in Phoenix, a large contingent of Suns fans who don’t want him on our basketball team because we don’t want to be the soundtrack to some parental fantasy; because we have long held deeply held views of LeBron as a hated villain; because we have waited 56 years for their first NBA championship and we don’t want the moment to be co-opted and controlled by a towering intruder; because we are more than a sunny, convenient playground for a Hall of Famer looking to cement his legacy.
So how long will it take us to change our minds? One week? A press conference? A big smile on Devin Booker’s face?
Prediction: It won’t be long.
If the Suns select Bronny James with the 22nd pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, followed by a LeBron signing shortly after, how soon will we jump on the bandwagon?
I’d like to think I’m immune. I eagerly see the worst of LeBron and how he is the main culprit for the era of player empowerment that has become an existential crisis for the NBA. Plus, I’m a Jordan guy.
But I am also pragmatic.
The Suns need a point guard. They need an alpha leader. They need a strong vocal presence on the court, someone to distribute, empower and set the tone. Even approaching 40, James is all of those things and more. He didn’t become the second best player in history by chance.
The Suns seem to be clearing the way. They will be the only team, besides the Lakers, that will have an audience with young Bronny before the draft. They just retained David Fizdale as a top assistant to Mike Budenholzer, a coach who has strong ties to LeBron.
The Suns have also made an explicit deal that the Lakers may not be willing to match. The Suns are clearly willing to select Bronny in the first round, which is more than just a status symbol. He comes with a much better salary and a two-year guarantee, terms that would be of great importance to any doting father, especially if LeBron’s days are dwindling and Bronny’s are very limited.
The Suns also offer a blank slate for LeBron to import their culture. That’s something he can’t do in Los Angeles, where he’s not even the second-most popular player in franchise history. And it’s something he couldn’t do in Miami. In fact, Fizdale once told the story of how a younger LeBron was clearly upset when the Heat wouldn’t allow his friends into the locker room because it was a violation of Heat culture.
In Phoenix, James could effectively set the controls to his preferred ambient temperature, especially with former teammate James Jones at the helm. And who knows? Maybe LeBron will agree to a minimum salary when Suns owner Mat Ishbia agrees to sell a portion of the team upon retirement.
For a desperate team with very little room to maneuver, LeBron could be the last Grand Slam available. The Valley has also come to fully appreciate Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, a pair of former enemies. And let’s be realistic. While Budenholzer may be brilliant, authentic and local, is he really going to electrify a low-power, low-connectivity team? Will the 2024-25 Suns be dramatically different without a dramatic acquisition?
After all, no one puts drama into drama better than LeBron.
Contact Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta mornings from 6-10am on Arizona Sports.
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