LeBron James could still set a new record all to himself.
Of course, we know the term “grand slam,” as in a home run with the bases loaded, winning all four majors in golf and tennis and the various derivatives of that.
When he went for four straight majors overlapping two professional golf seasons, Tiger Woods won the Tiger Slam. If he can ever win the U.S. Open, Phil will have the Mickle-Slam. The younger and better of the two tennis-playing Williams sisters has won several Serena-Slams, whatever that was the first time.
When LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time after seven seasons, he did it to chase the elusive NBA championship, which Bill Russell had won 11 times with the Celtics and Michael Jordan six with the Chicago Bulls.
After The King took his talents to South Beach and won two rings, he was still young enough to match Jordan’s six. And he kept an unfulfilled promise of bringing an NBA championship to his native Ohio and did so while leading the Cavaliers to four straight NBA Finals.
So what is out there for James to attach his name to now? Robert Horry and John Salley are the only NBA players to have won championships with three different teams – Horry won seven between the Houston Rockets, LA Lakers and San Antonio Spurs; Salley four with the Detroit Pistons, Bulls and Lakers.
At 34 by the time the 2019 NBA playoffs commence, James probably can’t win three more titles with his newest team and equal Jordan’s six. Even if he did that, he would still be far short of Russell’s 11. So here is what his new plan must be to etch his name into the record books with a new category.
LeBron has agreed to a four-year contract with the Lakers worth $154 million, but the fourth year is at his option. If he were to win one ring playing for the newest version of Showtime, James could opt into free agency at age 37 and still go to another team and establish his own milestone.
And, certainly, he won’t finish his career in LA, considering he can only add his statue to others outside Staples Center. His era will follow those of Jerry West, Magic, Shaq and Kobe, all of whom won titles with the Lakers.
But by picking the right team after the 2021 season, James could win championships wearing FOUR different NBA uniforms – call it the LeBron Slam.
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