LeBron James’ Lakers announcement is awesome, and contrasts with past ‘Decisions’

LeBron James has agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year deal — in other words, we have a third “Decision.” After two very different approaches to announcing his free agency decisions the last times out, James went a third direction with the news that he’d be taking off for the west coast.

His agency, Klutch Sports Group, put out a very simple release via Twitter that spelled it out in clear language, but also hyped up the man himself like one of the Buffer Brothers was on the mic.

“LeBron James, four time NBA MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, fourteen time NBA All Star, and two time Olympic gold medalist has agreed to a four year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers,” the release reads in its entirety.

That’s pretty baller, if you ask me. Even if the announcement didn’t involve a hat ceremony, a crop duster, macaroni, or a desert island.

This is wayyy different than before

The first time James announced his free agency plans, we got “The Decision.” It was a televised special with all the pageantry and unnecessary hype-building that you surely remember. He said that he was taking his talents to South Beach, words that will never be forgotten.

The second time out, James announced he was returning to Cleveland in an essay published in Sports Illustrated. There wasn’t nearly as much pagaentry, but it was lengthy, heartfelt, and got to the point: he was coming home, and he wanted to bring a championship along with him.

Now, it’s essentially comparable to the great “I’m back.” 1995 press release that Michael Jordan put out. It said everything James needed and wanted to say, and it said it as clearly as possible.

In fact, there’s not going to be a big party in Los Angeles or anything like that following this announcement. James won’t even be making a public apperance until the opening of his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio on July 30, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

There will be no further comment or press conference or welcome party for LeBron James in LA, according to a source familiar with his plans. His first public appearance after today’s news will be at the opening of his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio on July 30.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 2, 2018

While my colleague wrote in the article linked above that we need pageantry and distractions in 2018, there’s something thoroughly legit about James going this way with it instead. We got our third decision, and it made just as large an impact as the last two, even if, by comparison, the press release was extremely understated.

Dope article from sbnation.com