National Basketball Association

LeBron James sent a clear message to the Warriors: I own the NBA

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:51 p.m. ET

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Andrew Lynch

LeBron James started his Tuesday evening by adding a rather impressive new piece of jewelry to his collection. He finished the night with his first triple-double of the new season as the Cavaliers rolled to a blowout win over the New York Knicks.

In between those two end points, he tore the soul out of those Knicks — and sent a message to the Golden State Warriors, the presumptive favorites to win the 2017 NBA title.

Figuratively, that message went something like this: "I own this league. That 3-1 Finals comeback, with all the injuries and the Draymond suspension, was no fluke. Your superteam means nothing until you prove it on the court. Come try to take what is mine."

Literally, that message looked like this:

The lesson was loud and clear. Putting together a superteam was just the first step for Golden State; the Warriors still have to solve the game's greatest player. And if LeBron plays like he did on Tuesday — and, yes, like he did in the Finals — the Warriors might not stand a chance.

LeBron's dominance was best measured in those dunks, the half-dozen thunderous, seismic events he threw down against a completely overmatched Knicks defense. Each of those slams seemed to reinforce LeBron's message to the rest of the league: "I am the greatest. I am the single most powerful force in the NBA. Everyone else is just in the way."

Yet it was more than just dunks, as it always is with this basketball god. LeBron made his triple-double look easy. By the third quarter, he was so bored that he threw behind-the-back assists as casually as you or I would stroll down to the corner for a cold beverage and a snack. He even corrected one of the Knicks when he made a mistake on defense, which might be the ultimate form of trash talk. "You are so insignificant that I can improve your game right now, knowing that it will not affect my win. If you are lucky, someday you will be LeBron's teammate and ascend to basketball Valhalla. Peasant."

The best part for the King and his Cavs, particularly after Golden State's lopsided season-opening loss to the Spurs? They get to kick back and take in all the drama from afar. LeBron knows better than anyone all the work that lies ahead for the Warriors, after all. He's been there and done that, and his team has the swagger that comes with being champions. While Golden State tries to make everything work, his team figured everything out last year. For Cleveland, this season is about doing homework on opponents, refining their approach on both ends of the floor and staying healthy. The chemistry will take care of the rest.

From here, then, LeBron has two options:

He can play around 25 minutes per game in 70 games or so this season, resting up for the playoffs. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are more than capable of carrying the load, and the Cavs probably end up with 50 wins even if LeBron barely breaks a sweat in the regular season. That's what we all expect, and it's the prudent move — perhaps the one that gives LeBron the best shot at another ring in June.

Look closely enough, however, and there's another path, paved with glory and practically beckoning the Cavs to sally forth. All summer, we talked about how the MVP race is wide open because of that aforementioned assumption that LeBron would take it easy. But LeBron can run away with the MVP award if he wants. It would be No. 5, tying him with Michael Jordan and maybe giving the Cavs homecourt advantage, which wouldn't hurt against the Warriors in the Finals (assuming Golden State can get its act together, of course).

Either way, it's up to LeBron. He controls both his and the NBA's destiny, just like he always does.

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