On Saturday, February 29th, the Lakers played the Pelicans (the Lakers won 122-114 if you were wondering) but the final score wasn't the only thing to make the headlines, at the end of the night, the top story was LeBron James providing words of encouragement to Pelican's rookie and former Duke powerhouse, Zion Williamson. After hugging and encouraging Williamson, James received criticism for being too "buddy-buddy" with opponents. Well, in typical King James fashion, LeBron responded by saying;
"It's my obligation and it's my job to continue to pass on the game to the guys that's coming in after me. That's just my responsibility. No one told me to do that [speak to Williamson on the court]. I just feel like it's my responsibility to leave the game in a better place than when I had it."
He finished his statement by saying;
"Anybody that says that, 'LeBron, why would he do that while he's playing? It's a sign of weakness. [...] He's buddy-buddy with the guys he's going against.' Tell them to kiss my ass, All right? With a smile, too."
Whether you're a LeBron fan or not, whether you're an NBA fan or not, seeing this story should frustrate you. Why do we feel like to be successful we have to be rude? Being a leader has nothing to do with intimidation and everything to do with encouragement. Why is it that LeBron James, of all people, is making headlines, not for 17 (and counting) fantastic seasons in the NBA or yet another great game, but for being too "buddy-buddy" with a 19-year-old rookie?
In the past six months, I've started paying attention to the NBA and respecting the organization more and more but not just because it's great entertainment but because of the incredible leaders and history-makers that are consistently inspiring their communities. I personally believe that just watching interviews with Steph Curry, LeBron James and Michael Jordan will make you a better person.
I don't have any wise words on how to combat this disparity in leadership mentality aside from this; the number of games you win, the financial statistics at the end of the fiscal year or the bonus check that comes in the mail is nowhere close to as important as the impact you have on your peers, colleagues, friends, bosses and mentees.
As we all continue to reflect on Kobe Bryant's legacy, we talk more about the impact Bryant had on the community and on his children than we do the number of points he scored. While yes, Bryant will forever be known as one of the best basketball players in history, he will more frequently be known as the ultimate "girl dad."
I really hope that as a member of the next generation of leaders, we recognize the value of empathy and kindness in our careers. I hope we value a hug and kind words more than the reputation of a "fierce competitor." And as James has shown, I hope we finally start to see that the mark of a true leader is someone who can continue to succeed at what they do without having to bring those around them down.
Maybe it's time we all start to channel our inner LeBron.
