LeBron James Gets Reality Check from Michael Jordan’s Agent Who Secured Jordan Brand Deal

Michael Jordan's former agent David Falk threw significant shade at LeBron James while contextualizing his NBA career.

LeBron James Gets Reality Check from Michael Jordan’s Agent Who Secured Jordan Brand Deal

David Falk, LeBron James (Image via Firstsportz/NBA/X)

One of the defining aspects of the discourse around LeBron James and his incomparable NBA career is his super-teaming. The 40-year-old played on some iteration of one for the peak years of his career. Through 2010-2017, he entered every NBA season with an argument of being on the most loaded roster. His career is viewed through the lens of his comparatively limited playoff success during those years by many.

LeBron James joining the Miami Heat as a free agent in 2010 might legitimately be the most consequential move in league history. Players had moved to other talented teams in the past. Wilt Chamberlain was famously traded to the Lakers in 1968, while Julius Erving joined hands with Moses Malone in Philadelphia when these were the two previous NBA MVPs.

However, it can be argued that neither of these moves was truly the same as James’ move to South Beach. Dr. J was 32 when he got Malone as his teammate. Wilt Chamberlain was the same age when he moved to the West Coast to play with Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Erving already had success in the ABA and had two Finals appearances before Malone. Chamberlain, meanwhile, had a championship in Philadelphia.

In comparison, James was 25 years old when he joined hands with 29-year-old Dwyane Wade and 26-year-old Chris Bosh. These were three All-NBA talents smack dab in the middle of their physical primes. Them joining together opened them up to vitriol from fans of 29 NBA teams. These fans were all appalled at what they perceived to be a ‘cowardly’ action on James’ part. It was a departure from superstars of the past.

Michael Jordan’s former agent David Falk betrayed this sentiment in a recent interview. Speaking to the Sports Business Journal, Falk was asked whether he ranks James among his top-10. He said things that have been on many fans’ minds over the years:

Probably. I really like LeBron. But I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would’ve won 15 championships.

To this day, the effects of James’ superteaming are being felt in the NBA landscape

How LeBron James’ 2010 move changed NBA basketball

There have been many cascading effects of LeBron James’ decision to take his talents to South Beach in 2010. One of the most notable butterfly effects of that move was Kevin Durant’s 2016 free agency move. Buoyed by how James’ move to Miami turned out as a huge success, Durant joined hands with Stephen Curry on the 73-win Warriors in the 2016 offseason. This put an end to James’ spell as having the most talent for six straight seasons.

The James move in 2010 also inspired the Mikhail Prokhorov era Brooklyn Nets to assemble a superteam. Their GM Billy King engineered a deal that landed Jason Terry, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn in 2013. The team, which already had Joe Johnson, flamed out in the playoffs against James and co. The trade also yielded the Boston Celtics two top-3 picks in the 2016 and 2017 NBA Drafts.

The Celtics would go on to draft Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown with those picks. These two All-Star swingmen helped the Celtics become a powerhouse Eastern Conference team following James’ departure. They have also landed an NBA championship in 2024, and will play at TD Garden for many years to come.

In other effects, the Miami Heat Big 3 was also an inspiration in some ways for the 2020-21 Brooklyn Nets. Instead of relying on Durant, Kyrie Irving and a deep supporting cast, they traded for James Harden. However, this super-team ended with only a single playoff series win and was plagued by injuries and health problems.

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