Does LeBron James Have “That Guy” Mentality?

Storyline: What does it take to be “That Guy?” The player who dominates, sucks the air out of the opposition, and makes his team and teammates better … “That Guy” wins championships. Is LeBron “That Guy?” Written by William Brown, Aiken, SC

Does LeBron James have the “That Guy” mentality?

You know, the guy that takes the game over and steps on your throat? The guy who knows the moment and seizes it?

Courtesy: CBS Sports

Does he have the mentality that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had? The mentality that Stephan Curry seems to have now?

Does LeBron have the ability to see the flow of the game? To understand that now is not the time to pass? Does he realize when “now” is the time to score, even if another player is open?

“That Guy” knows it’s up to him to be a champion.

All these things go into being “That Guy.” And there’s more….

First: Usually the player that has the “That Guy” mentality doesn’t move to another team once he has established himself as part of that team. If anything, he’ll bring in the people he needs to win. Dwayne Wade didn’t leave Miami to get a championship. He brought in talent because he believed he needed more talent to get over the hump. “That Guy” knows he’ll win championships if he can get enough support. LeBron needed someone with that mindset, someone with that killer instinct. But the question is did he learn anything from being around Wade? Now that he has returned home, does he have the belief that “I just need enough to get over the hump?” Or is he stuck in the “You take the shot” mode?

Courtesy – Bleacher Report

Second: “That Guy” is ruthless. He should make you feel bad for the other team when his team goes on a run. Even as a fan of “That Guy’s” team, his shots should feel so brutal that you shake your head in pity for the other team. That’s because “That Guy” demoralizes the other team. His team sucks the life out of the opposing team and its fans. Part of the power of “That Guy” is that he makes you want to quit. “That Guy” rips out your heart.

Third: “That Guy” not only understands that sometimes he’s the only one who should take a shot, he understands that he must take that shot and take it at the right time. The feeling has to be right, in the flow of the game. Sometimes “That Guy” jacks up a shot just to maintain the right pace for the team. When “That Guy” hits that shot–just when he’s supposed to hit it–the entire game changes. Momentum changes even if “That Guy’s” team is behind. An inert feeling of flow and the bravery to take over the moment is essential to being “That Guy.” His teammates count on him to carry that burden. It helps the rest of the team play loosely. It’s what makes them better. “That Guy” takes the stress of the moment away when the game is on the line. He gives his team what it needs at the time it needs it.

Courtesy: briansmith.com

Is LeBron “That Guy?”

I think LeBron had a crash course in Miami from Dwyane Wade on what it takes to be “That Guy.” But I’m not sure he is “That Guy.”

But one thing’s for sure: if he’s not that guy, he had better hope OKC wins the series against Golden State. Why? You don’t want to run into “That Guy” (on the other team) when a championship is on the line–especially if you’re not “That Guy.”