We told you earlier this summer about how LeBron James signed up to be an executive producer on a comedy called “Survivor’s Remorse” that will be based on basketball, and will debut on the Starz network early next month.
The show had its premier in Beverly Hills this week, and James was on hand for the festivities.
When LeBron’s longtime friend and fellow producer Maverick Carter started making presumptive comments about the show still being around for a sixth season, James used the opportunity to make a self-deprecating joke, referencing a comment he made at the ridiculous pep rally the Heat threw after landing him and Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010.
From Bill Keveney of USA Today (via Sporting News):At a Tuesday premiere screening at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, he reminded a supportive audience of an earlier statement he made about multiple NBA championships for his former team, the Miami Heat.
“What (Maverick) said about Season 6 – Last time I said, ‘Not one, not two, not three, not four …,’ that … didn’t go over too well,” he said, drawing laughter with a reference to a memorable Heat rally with fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. James, who recently signed a deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, led the Heat to two championships and four NBA finals during four seasons in Miami.
Since this was four years ago, let’s revisit it, shall we?
Wade’s reaction in real time should tell you just how silly this all was.
James was a villain of sorts that summer, after leaving the Cavaliers in a cold-hearted way by announcing his infamous decision in a nationally-televised special. He continued to play the role of the heel at this public welcoming, exhibiting hubris that seemed unearned at the time, considering he hadn’t yet produced even a single championship during his first seven NBA seasons.
Times have changed, however, and LeBron couldn’t have a more positive public image. He’s a two-time champion, and after making it to the Finals in all four of his Miami seasons, he chose to return to Cleveland to try to bring a title to his hometown fans.
James, with the benefit of hindsight, now realizes just how absurd that prediction of multiple titles was. And his maturity allows him to joke about it, full-well knowing that the laughter he hears is directed squarely at himself.
