Suppose for a minute we are playing a round of Finals Jeopardy…and yes, I know the real game is called “Final Jeopardy,” but this is the NBA version.
So, for the sake of the game please just play along!
The game begins and Alex Tribec carefully reads the answer off of the board and it goes a little something like this:
“Answer: One of the most gifted forwards to ever play the game. An athletic wonder-too big and strong for opposing small forwards, and too fast and agile for opposing power forwards. Able to play four different positions on the floor and the first player since Oscar Robertson to potentially average a triple-double for an entire season. With the vision of Magic, the touch of Bird, and the athleticism of Michael Jordan, this player has been the key to his team’s success. He is the consummate team player while giving opposing teams a player they plainly cannot match up against. Quite simply, he is the key to the 2011 NBA Championship.”
With that, the clock starts ticking and the familiar “do-doo-do-do do-doo-do, do do-do-do do-do-do” starts playing in the background…
Okay, times up!
As you fumble with your sharpie and hurry to scribble down the first answer that comes to mind, you logically begin to write the one player whose name and game fit perfectly with this description. The one who has been at the forefront of the NBA, ESPN and Nike since he came into the league…LeBron Jam… (Wait; don’t forget it has to be in question form) “Who is LeBron James?!?” you answer with conviction.
ERRRRRR! Sorry, wrong answer. Thanks for playing…and with that Alex bids you a fond farewell!
Although James seems like the obvious choice, there is another player with a similar skill set that should have been considered. One who has befuddled not only opposing coaches, who have the unfortunate duty of trying to figure out how to guard him, but his own coaches as well, who try in vain to keep him focused for a full 82 game season. He is a player who has never quite lived up to the enormous potential with which he was blessed and, who only recently has begun to put together a consistent showing of his limitless gifts.
The correct answer, or should I say, the correct question should have been “who is Lamar Odom?!?”