King James of the Decade

By Nick Hamilton (@NickHamiltonLA)

Special to the Observer

Lebron James is one of the most polarizing athletes of our generation in the NBA. On the first day of a new decade, James recorded a triple double, (31 points, 12 assists, and 13 rebounds) in a Lakers 117-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns. It was James' 89th triple double of his career.

Much like the late former NBA commissioner David Stern revolutionized the game of basketball, James revolutionized the way athletes approach basketball on and off the court. Starting the new decade off on the right foot, James has not only had an impactful career thus far, but a extremely poignant decade.

He began the decade winning his first championship as a member of the Miami Heat and is still competing for titles now with the Lakers. What James has accomplished on the court has been nothing short of remarkable, three-time champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, MVP, Finals MVP, and brought a championship to a city and franchise in Cleveland that no one but him saw coming.

With all of his astounding accomplishments in the last decade, it's no surprise that James was recently named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Decade. His determination that brought awareness to the modern-day athlete regarding business, investments, and ensuring that players take care of themselves before the expiration of their career in the league sets him apart from the majority of athletes. Thanks to James, many athletes have been more cognizant with their contracts, business ventures, and how to develop themselves into full brands. Instead of being looked as just a ballplayer, James adopted the moniker "more than an athlete", which is executed by him on and off the floor.

"If I could have a positive impact on anyone from a performance standpoint, from a business standpoint, fatherhood standpoint, and son, if people can take inspiration from my journey I respect it," James said. "It's not just about me and my journey, it's about the one's you help along the way."

He's cultivating a great team of business minded individuals such as Rich Paul, Maverick Carter, and Randy Mims to execute the James brand on a larger scale. He also built "I Promise School" for inner city youth in Akron, Ohio, James continues to define the term greatness as a player, CEO, husband, and father.

As he continues to navigate his way towards his fourth championship, James is determined to not only lead the league in certain NBA categories, but lead his teammates by example of his unwillingness to be the greatest of all time. He's not Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant, however Lebron James is the greatest of all time (GOAT) in his own right with his own vision for all of us to witness.