James walang katulad sa NBA

MIAMI -- Isang 6-foot-8 at 250 pounds na player, taglay ni LeBron James ang mga kumbinasyon ng liksi, laki at lakas na hindi mapapantayan sa NBA.

Matapos matalo ang Miami Heat sa 2011 finals laban sa Dallas Mavericks, nagdesisyon si James na palakasin ang kanyang post play sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-ensayo kay Hakeem Olajuwon. Sa nakaraang season, tinu­tukan naman niya ang kan­yang mid-range jumper katuwang si Ray Allen.

Sa huling kalahating minuto at hawak ng Heat ang isang two-point lead, ang mid-range jumper ni James ang sumelyo sa panalo ng Miami para sa kanilang ikalawang sunod na NBA crown.

Isinalpak ni James ang kanyang jumper sa na­lalabing 27.9 segundo para gawin itong isang two-possession game.

At matapos ito ay bi­nitbit ni James ang Larry O’Brien Trophy sa kanyang braso at ang Finals MVP trophy sa kabila.

“I want to be, if not the greatest, one of the grea­test to ever play this game,” sabi ni James. “And I will continue to work for that, and continue to put on this uniform and be the best I can be every night.”

Wala namang masabi sa kanya si coach Erik Spoelstra.

“We all know his work ethic,” wiika ni Spoelstra, ginugol ang kanyang unang araw bilang isang two-time champion coach sa Jim Larranaga’s basketball camp sa University of Miami. ‘

“It’s probably unique for a guy who has been the best in the game since he was in seventh grade. Usually you wouldn’t have the type of work ethic that would match that type of talent,” dagdag pa nito.

Si Michael Jordan ay may anim na NBA titles para sa Chicago Bulls, ha­bang may dalawa si James sa Heat at may 11 si Bill Russell para sa Boston Celtics.

Si Russell ay naging ba­hagi ng on-court trophy presentations kasunod ang kanyang pagpunta sa isang maliit na kuwarto malapit sa Miami locker room.

Maraming beses nag­pakuha ng larawan si James habang nasa locker room.

At bago siya umalis ay tinawag nila ni Dwya­ne Wade si Russell para makasama sa ilang snapshots.

“Get the legend up here,” sigaw ni James.

Pumasok si Russell sa kuwarto habang pinapalakpakan siya ng ilang  Heat employees at family members.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng dalawang Heat stars at may ibinulong kay James.

“You earned this one,” wika ni Russell kay James.

Lalo pang lumaki ang ngiti ni James.

“I always felt that when he got up to five, six, seven that he was joking a little bit, but the media decided to take him very seriously,” sabi naman ni Heat managing general partner Micky Arison kay James. “I think right now he’s real happy with two and next year he’ll be worried about three.”

Ang ikatlong sunod na korona ang inaasahan sa Heat sa susunod na season.

“It’s the ultimate,” ani James. “I don’t want to think about next year right now, what our possibilities are next year. Got to take full advantage of this one. It’s an unbelievable moment for our team.”