LeBron Endearing Himself to Raptors Fans' is PR Genius

By now we have all seen it, the triumphant LeBron James, still covered in sweat, commending an entire country for their rabid fanaticism of their team at the end of the greatest season of basketball in the Raptors’ history.

It indeed feels good to be the King.

But let’s be clear, this is a man who was proclaimed king long before he even touched an NBA basketball. This is a man who before ever stepping on a professional court, signed a $10 million endorsement deal with Nike, and was driving a fully loaded Hummer to school by his senior year.

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This is a man who knows how to work the media, and saluting the fans in Toronto may have been one of his greatest master strokes yet at controlling his image.

I must admit, even a cynical fan like myself, who had been cursing LeBron James’ name this entire series for his antics with the referees after what seemed like every single play at the rim, felt the sting of elimination a little less after James’ kind words for The North.

But then I snapped back to reality, and I was able to draw two main conclusions from his little monologue post game:

This is guy is one of the most universally aware players in sports, that truly appreciates a good atmosphere when he sees one.
LeBron James knows the importance of branding and how to sell it to consumers, regardless of their team allegiance.

For the most part, Canadian basketball fans have felt straight up disrespected for these entire playoffs. From the analysts writing off the Raptors two best players night after night, to opponents not respecting our anthem and then lying with a straight face about it to the media, to opinion polls classifying us as “other” when we had officially just achieved our greatest playoff run in franchise history.

I’m not even going to talk about the referees in the East finals.

Now, think about how we all felt when LeBron said what he said, how endearing he just made himself to an entire country, how genuine he came across.

Keep in mind, James was never asked about the fans, he just started talking, completely ignoring Doris Burke’s opening question.

The man is no fool.

He one way or another saw anthem-gate involving former teammate Dwyane Wade, who might as well be his brother. He had been asked the questions about CBS’ poll labeling Toronto as the “other” publicly, and he lived through the non-calls and ticky tack fouls Toronto was receiving through the entire series.

Yet even with all of that, Toronto pushed the Cavaliers, and LeBron James, to actually get off cruise control and compete for a spot in the finals.

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Getting the words we got from him post game six is not something to be overlooked, it was a combination of recognition from an all-time great that this city can be proud of, but was also a PR move that would make the remaining presidential candidates blush with pride.

It’s split decisions and calculations like this, that will make LeBron eventually the first ever billionaire athlete after signing a lifetime deal with Nike.

Most importantly, as his age begins to catch up to him, it is the move of a man that knows his most important selling point going into the second half of his career will be more LeBron the man, and not LeBron the athlete.

Next: Toronto Raptors: Is Home Court Advantage a Real Thing?

LeBron James is aware that he has fans everywhere, regardless what jersey they are wearing, and Friday night proved that.

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LeBron Endearing Himself to Raptors Fans’ is PR Genius

By Ryan Greco | May 29, 2016

By now we have all seen it, the triumphant LeBron James, still covered in sweat, commending an entire country for their rabid fanaticism of their team at the end of the greatest season of basketball in the Raptors’ history.

More from Tip of the Tower