The LeBron Effect

By: Peter Madden

Like everyone in Philly, when it was announced that The King would be joining our beloved (but ring-missing since 1983) 76ers, I was truly excited, but also holding my breath.

Would he be a diva? A locker room distraction? Whining about not getting the ball enough? Selfish? Hell, at this age, would he really have the energy needed to make a difference?

Well, after seeing him up close and in person at the November 2 game (in the second row, courtesy of a great friend. Thanks, Jay!), it’s safe to say he personifies leadership in action, and there’s something we can all learn from him. A few takeaways from this Cat…

1. He is completely selfless. I’ve always marveled at LeBron’s shooting and defensive skills. But seeing him whip the ball to all of his teammates, from full-court underhanded magic to no-look dishes to the corners, had my jaw on the floor. His number one goal seemed to be getting the ball to the most open player instead of doing it all on his own.
2. He sees the whole court and the whole play. On every play, his eyes are darting around like a falcon at dinner time. You can almost hear his mind whirring away, calculating the 10+ scenarios that may unfold within a given play, whether on offense or defense, and acting accordingly.
3. He’s always thinking one step ahead. Much like the infamous Wayne Gretzky quote, “I go to where the puck is going to be” (which was a favorite of Steve Jobs), LeBron is constantly positioning himself for what’s coming next, whether that’s anticipating a rebound or putting himself in the best position on the court to take a shot or dish off the ball.
4. Playing with joy. LeBron bleeds intensity, but it’s soundly balanced by an incredibly joyful man. Laughing at himself, joking with teammates on the bench, and always encouraging. His smile is infectious, and you could see every player on the court picking up on it and lighting up themselves.
5. Not taking himself too seriously. His “cellies” (for anyone of a certain age, that means celebrations) are as fun as they are ridiculous. He doesn’t seem to care. He’s embracing his inner creativity and inner child, celebrating each moment without obsessing over the scoreboard.
6. The handshakes. He has a special handshake with each player, creating a unique bond with each one. He even has one with Jaylen Brown, who infamously questioned LeBron’s son Bronny being in the NBA. Apparently, that’s very old news to the King, and the connection he has with JB and the others is apparent.
7. He’s there for his team in more ways than one. On one particular play, a teammate went down especially hard after going for a dunk. LeBron sprinted from half court with genuine concern on his face and immediately helped his guy up, asking if he was all right. The player laughed it off, and LeBron joined in, with relief.

This team is a joy to watch, and the fact that they’re clicking this early in the season is proof that when a leader leads by example, takes the spotlight off himself, and does his part to make his team shine, there’s a great lesson for anyone in business.

Finally, Go Sixers!