New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has spoken up on Lebron James’ decision and the assemblage of the Miami Thrice. Prokhorov was quite positive in his open letter to the USA Today, writing that “no one has the right to question” James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and that in James’ case “the sportsman won the day, not the showman or the businessman. What is wrong with that?”
Indeed, as a businessman (albeit a highly biased one), Prokohorov would likely assess Lebron’s decision’s outcome as the poorest available. Back in early July, Prokhorov’s analysis of the Lebron situation noted that a James-to-Miami move would give him a “very high chance to win two or three titles” but would also “diminish the LeBron brand” – a take that now seems quite mainstream and ubiquitous in the public discourse.
The most imagination-catching line closes Prokhorov’s recent epistle. Proclaims Prokhorov: “I will be happy for us to beat the Miami Heat in the conference finals, maybe not this season, but in the very near future.”
Prokhorov’s open letter runs in full after the break, along with a June interview with a very nervous Mike Francesca of Yes Network.
The players are signed, the “Decision” is made, but the passions around this year’s extraordinary class of NBA free agents refuses to die down. What surprises me is the amount of negative commentary directed at the three top free agents (especially LeBron James) who decided to play on the same team and to create a great franchise together. Of course, any club owner dreams of having those players, including me, but all questions of how the announcements were made aside, I respect their choice, and no one has the right to judge them.
I want to say that I support LeBron, the best athlete in the NBA. He had a truly difficult choice to make. Any move he made was sure to be viewed as wrong, and to leave many unhappy fans. Basing his decision on achieving results on the basketball court shows that the sportsman won the day, not the showman or the businessman. What is wrong with that?
We are seeing the birth of a new, dynamic team with such star players, and all of us can await the new season with great anticipation. I wish them success and give them my moral support. I will be happy for us to beat the Miami Heat in the conference finals, maybe not this season, but in the very near future.
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