This story first appeared in SLAM 246.
Think for a moment about what our beloved game of basketball will look like in the year 2041. Sounds far away, right? Yep. Eighteen years. Now, hit rewind. It was 18 years ago (from when I’m writing this) when SLAM slapped us across the face with a cover for the ages. SLAM 93. King James had begun his NBA reign just two years earlier, and he carried the pressure of a world that often longs to see the mighty fail. And yet, two years in, he still hadn’t broken under the hefty weight of a crown. While most were considering draft eligibility, he’d already established himself as the League’s superstar. The throne was his.
At this point, LeBron had formed enough of a relationship with SLAM that we had his trust. Trust enough to rock a sword and crown, as well as a flimsy- looking cape and know that we’d make it look incredible. Add the King of Diamonds playing-card cover design, the look of nobility in King James’ eyes and incredible was indeed the result.
SLAM 93 was the dictionary definition of dope. The top 10, probably even top 5, covers ever type of dope. But perhaps even more striking than that, is that the cover still makes sense now. When this issue dropped, 2023 seemed like a long way off, and it was. During the decades that have passed, LeBron has led three different franchises to NBA championships. He’s stayed in the MVP conversation consistently and been an undisputed All-Star. His 2K rating from 2005 is only 7 points lower than this year’s. Boom.
Even us older heads are becoming progressively less dismissive of hearing his name mentioned in the GOAT debate. As each year goes by, the consistency of his sway becomes more difficult to ignore. Less disputable. A lot has changed since 2005, but when LeBron steps on the basketball court or graces a SLAM cover, a lot of things haven’t. The King still reigns.
