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How Big of a Role Did Mike Brown Play in LeBron James' Development? LeBron James and the Miami Heat are one win away from making it to the NBA Finals. If all goes well, he will win his first championship, something that he failed to do with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007. Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the coach that guided that Cavaliers team to the Finals has himself a new job. That would be none other than Mike Brown, who will step into Phil Jackson's shoes as the new head coach of the Lakers. Brown took over in Cleveland after LeBron had already had some success there in his first two years in the league, and the two joined forces to make the Cavaliers a perennial powerhouse. Nevertheless, LeBron and Brown didn't get along at the very end, and they both ended up going their separate ways. Depending on who you ask, Brown did not have much of a hand in shaping LeBron into a superstar. He did that all by himself. He is, after all, the chosen one. But is that true? Is it possible that Brown is just as responsible for LeBron's superstar status as the man himself? Well, let's discuss. MUST READ: The Top 55 Moneymakers in NBA History
From a simple statistical point of view, there is a correlation between Brown's arrival and LeBron's ascension. In Brown's first year in 2005-2006, LeBron averaged what is still a career-high 31.4 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. For the rest of Brown's tenure, LeBron would not average fewer than 27.3 points per game, and he would win a scoring title in 2008. But let's not kid ourselves. Nobody ever accused Brown of being an offensive mastermind, which is part of the reason he and LeBron didn't get along. However, Brown's impact on LeBron's defensive prowess should not be overlooked. The Cavaliers were among the top 10 defensive teams in each of Brown's years at the helm. In 2009, LeBron was named to the NBA's All-Defensive team for the first time. Those same honors have been bestowed on him in each of the last two years as well, and LeBron is now generally regarded as one of the best defenders in the league. So while you could make the argument that LeBron would have been a fine player without Brown, it's easy to see that Brown did help him become a more complete player. LeBron is still reaping the benefits, and he likely will for many years still to come. If LeBron and the Heat win the Finals, perhaps he should send his old coach a thank you card.
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