Organizations, not players, win NBA titles
Readers have berated me for a couple weeks now for writing that LeBron James' career eventually will be better than Michael Jordan's was.
My mistake.
What I should have written was that James' career will surpass Jordan's if he's fortunate enough to have a similar support system.
James more likely will look for love - along with money and NBA championships - in all the wrong places. If so he could wind up as just another frustrated "best player never to win a title in his sport."
As James searches for a new team via free agency he should keep in mind something that Jerry Krause once said.
Yes, that Jerry Krause. The Jerry Krause who wasn't appreciated while building the Bulls around Jordan on the way to six NBA titles.
The quote has been turned, twisted and tortured over time but this is the most popular version: "Players don't win championships; organizations win championships."
James might want to dismiss that but it's all I could think of while watching the Celtics dismiss his Cavaliers from the playoffs last week.
For a team to win championships it takes a village, so to speak. For a great player to become a champion it takes an organization that provides direction and discipline.
Jay-Z in New Jersey won't help James become all he can be. New York's financial district won't. Hollywood's bright lights won't. Sorry, but Chicago's marketing opportunities won't either.
The right place is wherever the best available NBA organization is to support the best available players.
Like, how good would James be if coached like Phil Jackson coached Jordan? How much would he benefit from a system like the triangle offense that benefited Jordan?
What if James were complemented like Jordan was with a Scottie Pippen, a Horace Grant or Dennis Rodman, a spot-on spot-up shooter like John Paxson or Steve Kerr?
What if James played for a franchise that had a strength coach like Al Vermeil, who turned skinny Jordan teammates like Pippen, Grant and B.J. Armstrong into NBA men?
The appeal of today's Bulls is the chance to be around players like Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.
Again, though, James should understand that "players don't win championships; organizations win championships." James will have to determine whether the Bulls still offer the type of foundation that can maximize its players.
Is Bulls GM Gar Forman another Krause, and the strength and conditioning program as good as Vermeil's was, and club chairman Jerry Reinsdorf as committed to providing world-class facilities as he was 20 years ago?
Heck, few basketball observers around here are convinced yet that Forman, Paxson and Reinsdorf are capable of hiring a coach capable of coaching James.
So, should Bulls fans hope or fear that James will carefully investigate their club as spring evolves into summer?
The Bulls' current roster is important - as are the rosters of possible suitors like the Cavs, Knicks, Nets, Heat and Clippers - but the overall infrastructure is more important.
Seriously, even James could use a quality organization as much as any organization could use him.
That's what LeBron James should consider if he wants to surpass Michael Jordan as the best basketball player ever.
mimrem@dailyherald.com