[domain8543]

Lebron's struggles as a black man in America are a huge part of his success story. Not just that he's excellent at what he does. Pretending that race doesn't exist does not actually work in practice. LeBron himself will tell you that.

[goatlover]

Lebron plays in a league that's majority black in the footsteps of Michael Jordan, who was the most famous athlete on the planet and on the way to being a billionaire and owner. Lebron was anointed Jordan's heir while still in high school, and he got drafted straight into the NBA with the #1 overall pick. He's had numerous huge endorsements over his career.

Exactly how did he struggle as a basketball player? White Men Can't Jump was a 90s movie, and back in the 80s, Bird was a the great white hope as redneck from Indiana, because the top players were mostly black, and Bird was even called out as unathletic by Dennis Rodman and Isaiah Thomas after he won a playoff game over them in Detroit.

[domain8543]

I said his struggles as a black man. As in being raised in poverty in the midwest (not a lot of opportunity for people of his background) and having no real shot at success in America other than selling his body.

[GameOfFrowns]

>having no real shot at success in America other than selling his body.

Selling his body? Are you serious?

He wouldn't have been able to become a cop, a nurse, a clerk, a financial professional or any of the other thousands of professions that black people in the midwest find themselves in?

LeBron's struggles seem less part of his success story and more part of a self-penned "rags to riches" legend.

[goatlover]

Selling his body? Is that what millionaire athletes are doing? Or just the black ones? You mean Lebron didn’t want to play basketball but had no other choice? Unlike us office workers who grew up dreaming of being professional athlete, but weren’t good enough at sports?

[foolinaround]

IMHO, LeBron's struggle was one of an poor kid growing up.

I would even say that being black was an advantage, and gave him great genetics that he took to the next level with discipline.

[anonymouskimmer]

> "I would even say that being black was an advantage, and gave him great genetics that he took to the next level with discipline."

Being Jewish was a great advantage to Einstein, and gave him great genetics that he took to the next level with discipline.

Being French was a great advantage to Joan of Arc, and gave her great genetics that she took to the next level with dedication.

LeBron may have great genetics. But if he does, it's because of his parents and luck, not his race per se. Otherwise everyone who is black would have a genetic advantage that they could take to the next level with discipline.

It is racist as hell to attribute to race what are personal qualities. Other than, perhaps, traits that only certain races possess, such as the ability to breath at high elevations without taking weeks to adapt to the conditions.