On Being LeBron James

Normally I'm not really into post game coverage.  Athletes rarely have anything interesting to say after a game (it's typically some standard combination of a) thanking God, b) praising teammates, c) complementing the opponent and d) crediting the team's "one game at a time philosophy"), and analyst commentary is similarly vapid.  Last night was different, however, as every sports fan (myself included) had his eyes glues to the television, waiting to witness the first few seconds of what might become the LeBron-after-Cleveland era.  While the game was basically decided midway through the fourth quarter of Boston's 94-85 Game Six victory over Cleveland, the real story (especially for Knicks, Bulls and Heat fans) didn't begin until after the final buzzer sounded at TD Garden.

It was nearly impossible not to scrutinize LeBron's every post game move and speculate on what each might signal about his impending free agency decision.  Did the King's "good sportsmanship" - embracing the Celtics players after the loss, as compared to last year when he stormed out of the arena following his playoff elimination at the hands of the Orlando Magic - prove that he has matured, or did it suggest that he had already mentally checked out of Cleveland before the playoffs even began?  LeBron shed his Cavaliers jersey while walking through the tunnel on the way to the visiting locker room, on camera no less; was this his way of symbolically showing his dissatisfaction with Cleveland coaches and management for failing to build a championship-caliber roster?  Or was he (perhaps more realistically) simply trying to comprehend what had gone wrong with a Cavaliers season that, just weeks ago, seemed destined to conclude with MVP LeBron James hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy?

What does this expression tell us about LeBron's future with the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Because LeBron's free agency decision will undoubtedly alter the long term future of several NBA teams - not only Cleveland and the team LeBron ends up on (assuming he goes elsewhere), but also the other franchises who are able to / fail to land other free agents as a result of the ripple effects of King James' decision - we all must prepare for endless speculation over the next two months.  Of course, the only person who knows what LeBron James is thinking right now is LeBron James (and maybe a few members of his inner circle).  Regardless, it's fun to play the "what if" game and try to guess where LeBron might be headed come July 1st.  We all know every member of the sports media will be earning their next few paychecks by doing it.