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How does Chess affect Lebron James Legacy?
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How does Chess affect Lebron James Legacy?

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There is a running joke in the sports world where people react to an unrelated post or video and comment "How does this affect LeBron James legacy". This led me to ask myself "How does chess impact his legacy". Now most people will think this is a ridiculous subject to make a blog on, and well... it is.

 

LeBron James at the chessboard (not real)

Though I ended up really thinking about it and I ended up finding a video of LeBron James himself saying he has a "chess-like" mentality when it comes to basketball and being a professional athlete, I now may do the honors for our glorious king and compare LeBron's playmaking abilities to chess skills like foresight, planning, and adaptability.

Hypothetical Question

You are my sunshine picture of LeBron James (this is another LeBron James related joke)

Say LeBron James was a chess player, now would he dominate the board strategically, controlling every square like he controls the court, or would he dazzle us with explosive epic piece sacrifices like one of his explosive monster dunks. I think it's safe to say a little of both. See LeBron James is actually a brilliant basketball player, physical attributes aside LeBron James is famous for thinking ahead knowing what plays could happen, what passes can lead to a score, and not to mention his amazing court vision, surely that'll transfer to board vision right?

And let’s not forget, LeBron thrives under pressure. There are multiple moments in his career, where he hits a game-winning shot with seconds to spare, or executing a clutch defensive play like his iconic block in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals. Take a moment and just imagine LeBron in a tense complicated chess endgame, with the clock ticking down, well I could easily imagine that he’d keep calm, find the best move, make his opponents sweat a little, just like he’s done time and time again as a basketball player. It’s that mix of composure, brilliancy, and ability to keep on his feet when it matters most that would make him an unstoppable force in chess.

What Openings would LeBron James Play?

I have compiled a short list of three openings in which I think LeBron James would play along with a reason on why I think he would play that opening.

1. Caro-Kann Defense - (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5.)

The Caro-Kann Defense has a reputation for being a solid opening that at its core really works well with long-term planning and counterplay. This opening is one that I think clearly mirrors LeBron’s calculated and solid style.

2. English (1. c4.)

The English is an opening with a flexible pawn structure and also has the ability to transition into many types of setups. I picked this one as it reflects LeBron’s adaptability on the court, being that sometimes he has to take charge and be a scorer for the team or a playmaker for the team.
3. Ruy Lopez (1. e4 e4 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5.)

Finally we have the Ruy Lopez, this very popular opening is good at building long-term pressure and controlling the center which can resemble LeBron's ability to dominate space on the court. The Ruy-Lopez is strategic, yet tactically which in my opinion is what makes me think this would be a great opening for LeBron James. 

What Chess Player Would Resemble LeBron James?

With all being said, LeBron James could be compared most to Anatoly Karpov. The reason why this would make an excellent fit is because Karpov was a positional genius, making quick work in controlling small advantages and methodically destroying opponents over the span of the game. Similarly, LeBron’s is usually able to maintain a point lead even a small one.

LeBron vs Kasparov 1984 WCC
So does Chess impact his Legacy?
Yes, I do think that Chess in some way does affect his legacy, while chess itself doesn’t directly impact his legacy. It's the powerful metaphor that helped me make a connection between LeBron and Chess. It's the qualities that align chess like his ability to think ahead and make calculated decisions. In conclusion I think there are many ways LeBron embodies the qualities of a chess master.