Here's the latest edition of "Wise Words with LeBron James," as the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar approaches Monday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center:
LeBron James on the Philadelphia 76ers' rebuild: "It's all a process. Everyone wants instant oatmeal, but it's always a process."
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 2, 2015
Some thoughts:
1) Wow, one of the greatest players of all-time compared the Sixers to oatmeal. The NBA is amazing.
2) "Everyone wants instant oatmeal" would be a pretty good name for a book about this Philadelphia team under general manager Sam Hinkie. It would look great on a T-shirt, too.
3) Honestly, instant oatmeal isn't that great.
4) James knows what he's talking about. While he's never experienced losing quite like the Sixers have, he missed the playoffs in his first two seasons in the NBA. When he joined the Miami Heat, it took an entire season -- and a crushing Finals loss -- for the group to find its identity. Last year, he said that his "patience would get tested" in Cleveland, and he was right: the team started 19-20 before turning everything around. He knows what it's like to take tons of criticism while trying to focus on long-term goals.
This reminds me of how James routinely deflects questions like that ask if Player X or Factor Y "makes things easier" for him. James is the most gifted player on the planet, and he's played with other superstars. Even with those advantages, each MVP season and championship ring has been full of challenges, so he doesn't like the word "easy." In the same way, James views everything in the NBA as a process, whether you're rebuilding or trying to get elite players to jell. James' overall message about the importance of patience just happens to align with Philadelphia's approach to team-building.
