He's Not Like Mike

When it comes to basketball royalty, "His Airness" reigns supreme. Michael Jordan is the player all those who have followed are measured against. So when he speaks, like the old EF Hutton commercial goes...people listen. This week, Jordan was the latest to weigh in on Lebron James' decision to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, and his words were damning to the "Chosen One." "There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said let's get together and play on one team. I was trying to beat those guys."

Those comments confirmed what I've been saying all along. A competitor like Jordan, Bird, Magic or even Kobe doesn't want to team up with you. They aren't interested in the whole buddy/buddy thing. Special players with that kind of makeup want to beat you plain and simple. Not only that, they're driven by the challenge. Bird and Magic pushed each other without even knowing it. Jordan was consumed by idea of achieving more than either Bird or Magic, and then dethroning the Isiah Thomas led Pistons.

In contrast, LeBron wants his hand held and someone to make sure he looks both ways before crossing the street. Sure he'd like a title or ten, but he doesn't care about beating the best in order to be the best. He'd rather become Dwayne Wade's wingman in Miami, if that means getting a ring. So instead to trying to lead the Cavaliers past the Celtics and Lakers of the world, he'll play Robin to Wade's Batman. And that's fine, as long as he understands what it means for his legacy.

No longer will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as an immortal like Jordan. That conversation is over. LeBron can win multiple titles with the Heat, but in the grand scheme of things, it won't matter. He'll be doing so on Wade's team and in Wade's town. They won't be building any King James statues outside of American Airlines Arena. Maybe it's fitting that LeBron is changing his number from Jordan's 23 to 6, because the fact of the matter is, they don't have anything in common anymore.