Every fan and expert is enjoying the 2023 NBA Playoffs with Bubble nostalgia, with the same teams reaching the Conference Finals who made it there during the 2020 Playoffs. LeBron James and Co will try to get the same outcome as 3 years back. However, Nikola Jokic and Jimmy Butler, and Jayson Tatum stand in The King’s way. This is where Shaquille O’Neal came in and presented us with Sophie’s Choice dilemma.
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None of the other three superstars have won a championship yet. Meanwhile, the 19x All-Star is eying the 5th of his 20-year career. And so, The Diesel has asked the fans whether they would like to see a new star take home the Larry O’Brien.
“LeBron James’ 5th or their first?”: Shaquille O’Neal presents us with Sophie’s Choice dilemma
Before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, ESPN via Twitter and Shaq via Instagram, asked fans whether it’ll be a 5th one for the 4x MVP or if will we get to see a new champion this season.
And somebody, who must be a neutral fan, could not take the dilemma and compared it to “Sophie’s Choice”.
“LeBron’s [James] 5th or their first? Shaq with a Sophie’s choice dilemma,” the user Tweeted.
Meryl Streep won her 2nd Academy Award for her portrayal of a Polish mother in Nazi Germany, having to choose better her two daughters, who will live and who dies. So yes, while equating this playoff situation to ‘Sophie’s Choice’ may seem a bit dramatic at first (and it absolutely is), that is just the way fans feel at the moment. And it is hard to blame them.
Where it stands right now, it’s a win-win for the NBA
Whether it’s James winning his 5th, further strengthening his case for the greatest of all time against 6x champ Michael Jordan, or it’s the other 3 All-NBA stars in the running, the league will be in a win-win situation.
If the latter happens, 38-year-old James will still have proven his greatness, leading his pack deep into the Playoffs and setting himself up for another season of title contention in year 21.
However, it looks like the NBA wants James to win it all — now. That’s according to a viral theory on the internet with a “leaked” NBA script that suggests the Lakers would win the Finals against the Celtics in 7 games.
Well, that would be something bizarre if James does end up winning his 5th, even if not in the exact way.
