By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The NBA season is winding down. While Boston and Washington battled through a game 7 for the right to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland had their feet kicked up waiting to see who wins. So, I have to wonder, is LeBron James bad for the NBA?

Sounds crazy I know. LeBron has been the best player in the world for several years. We all know his accolades; three time NBA champion, three time NBA Finals MVP, 4 time MVP, he was named to 13 NBA All-Star teams and won two Olympic Gold Medals.

I didn’t even mention that he’s won Rookie of the Year and won a scoring title. He’s currently in his 14^th season and still going strong. So, is he too good? Because his teams are basically a lock to at least get to the Finals.

Everybody remembers ‘The Decision’ in the summer of 2010 where he famously ‘took his talents to South Beach’ and joined the Miami Heat. James is the pioneer of the modern era Super Team. He joined fellow All-Stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and ever since then he’s played in the Finals every year.

His teams have had a pretty easy path to the Finals since he plays in the East. For instance, this year the Cavs swept Indiana and Toronto in the first two rounds. In his second tenure in Cleveland the Cavs have had at least one sweep every year.

I honestly don’t even watch the playoffs until the Finals. We basically already know who will be there and that’s the only time we can really expect competition.

I think Kevin Durant joining a loaded Golden State team was directly influenced by what LBJ did in 2010. I believe if LeBron never did that Durant would have felt differently about joining a Warriors team that made two consecutive Finals appearances and had the best record in league history without him.

His legacy among super stars was questioned but he saw once King James finally win a title that did not matter. He just needs the ring to validate him as being an all-time great.

During his first stint in Cleveland they became a good regular season team but they would not surround him with elite talent. If you’ve noticed, after he got the opportunity to leave he makes sure there are at least two other All-Star players on the team he joins.

When he returned to Cleveland they already had Kyrie Irving (top 5 point guard in the league) and they traded for power forward Kevin Love who was, arguably, the best at his position.

He’s been so vocal about what additions the team needs to the point it makes you wonder if he also has the title of general manager. During the season James let it be known they really needed a backup point guard that can play well and give Irving some much needed rest. So, they acquired Deron Williams, the No. 3 pick in the 2005 draft and three time All-Star for that role.

Center Andrew Bogut, the top pick of the 2005 draft and former Warrior signed with Cleveland in March to help strengthen the front court. He broke his leg less than one minute in his debut with the team.  They also traded to acquire sharp shooter Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks during the season.

Regardless of who the Cavs play in the Conference Finals you can guarantee they’ll win the series. I can’t imagine a team in the East competing while James still plays at a high level.