Will Being the ‘Best Player in the World’ Help LeBron Win Game 6?
Will his Lebron’s confident statement help him, or hurt him? (Photo: AP/Ben Margot)
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers may have lost Game 5 of the NBA Finals, going down in the series 3-2, but that hasn’t gotten the megastar and potential Finals MVP down.
Behind the hot hand of Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors are now heavily favored to close out the finals and take the NBA Championship — especially with the Cavs’ Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love sidelined with injuries.
But during his postgame press conference, James shot down all speculation that he and his team were not up to the task of winning a championship: “I feel confident because I’m the best player in the world,” he told reporters. “It’s simple.”
It’s hard to argue that James is not one of the world’s best basketball players. In the NBA Finals alone, he’s tallied 40 or more points in three of five games. In the Game 5 loss, he still notched a triple-double with 40 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, center, shoots between Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, and forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the second half of Game 5 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, June 14, 2015. The Warriors won 104-91. (Photo: John G. Mabanglo/EPA Pool via AP)
James’ blunt words were Game 5’s key “quotable,” and have sparked buzz across the internet. The Cavs star is well-known for his vocal, even flashy, brand of confidence, and his postgame comments are certainly in line with his persona.
But will they be his downfall? Talent does not always equal success, according to Jennifer Carter, Ph.D, director of Sport Psychology at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. That said, James does seem to have the stuff of champions.
Love him or hate him, the Cavs star exhibits qualities that leverage athletic prowess, Carter tells Yahoo Health. And she wouldn’t necessarily call James’ confidence arrogance. “There’s underconfidence, confidence, and overconfidence,” she explains. “Underconfidence can make the athlete tense up and falter, giving into negative thinking. Overconfidence can make the athlete not prepare or work as hard as necessary. I’m not seeing that with LeBron.”
Earlier in his career, some critics questioned his work ethic. But as he’s matured, LeBron hasn’t rested on his laurels, and his tenacity has been documented. He’s manipulated his diet to accommodate a changing skillset, and has learned to play any position on the court.
He’s also got the attitude of a winner, says Carter. “Athletes that see the most success manage their emotions well,” she explains. “They’re optimistic. They don’t lash out at others or get mired in self-doubt — and they have confidence in their identity. They realize that the outcome of one game or performance does not affect the their abilities in the next game.”
The secret recipe of success is more than talent. Carter says an athlete has to be even-keeled, tuning out what’s happening off the court and teammate drama. He has to be a risk-taker, ignoring doubts and aggressively taking intuitive chances on the field, ice or court.
“Personalities that excel are resilient, and this is where confidence like James’ can really help,” she says. “Perfectionists often don’t go hand-in-hand with peak performances. Winners can’t get down. They must have a short memory for mistakes, understanding that they’re part of the game. They notice mistakes, and then let them go.”
Carter points to 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus as an example. When the golfer insisted he’d never missed a putt inside three feet on the last hole of a tournament, a reporter challenged him with film footage of instances where he most definitely had.
The journalist said he could show him the footage, if he’d like to see it. Nicklaus said there was no need, reportedly repeating, “I have never missed from inside three feet on the last hole of a tournament. Are there any more questions?”
Winners excise bad moments and bad games from their memories.
They don’t dwell. They move on, like LeBron seems keen to do in Game 6. He might even have a chip on his shoulder, after his team was doubted and called “undermanned” for the remainder of the finals — and that’s not a bad thing.
There’s a unique pressure that comes with “being LeBron” — and that’s expectations. After the earning the nickname King James out of high school, and locking up the first pick in the 2003 NBA draft well before the event took place, the Cavs star has always had an image to live up to. No one has entered a professional sport with more hype, and so he has to manage a unique kind of pressure.
He will always have lofty expectations, which might actually work to his advantage, prompting more confidence and harder work to compensate. “Those that have grit, passion and something to prove are usually personalities that find success,” says Carter.
Think, for instance, of sixth-round NFL draft pick Tom Brady, who feared he wouldn’t be drafted at all out of college in 2000. When the New England Patriots finally called his name, Brady told owner Robert Kraft, “You’ll never regret picking me.” Four Super Bowl championships and two NFL MVP nods later, and it’s safe to say Brady has lived up to that promise.
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Compare that to 1998 first pick Peyton Manning, who has won just one Super Bowl, with the Colts in 2007. Although great, he’s never had quite as much to prove.
LeBron will enter Game 6 with more of the same pressure he’s always faced. “He has the attention of media and fans watching everything he does, including mistakes,” Carter explains. “How many of us have our work performance broken down and analyzed by millions?”
So, LeBron’s seeming cockiness may make a certain amount of sense. The scrutiny requires a special brand of confidence, and James is a special case. Declaring himself the best in the world might be more than arrogant words —although plenty can argue otherwise, especially as other talents in the NBA surge.
His ultra-confident words are likely an example of him resting into his own identity and skills. “Finding that personal middle ground can really help athletes reach their potential,” Carter says. “They can take calculated risks, have fun, and let their bodies execute their training. They can get in the zone.”
The former NBA champ and MVP has more talent than most, more to rise above than the rest, and seems to have found a successful balance. “LeBron’s approach seemingly allows him to get out of his head and into his body,” Carter continues. “He knows his own abilities.”
He’s — arguably —the best in the world. We’ll know after Game 6.
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