The final debate that I bring to the table is the notion that Steph has been told since he was in high school he was to small to play in the NBA . Look at your self in the mirror ... how many times have people told you, you weren't going to do something? I can speak from personal experience... Every day. When parents instill confidence into their child at a young age outsiders opinions weigh light. As long as mommy and daddy tell me I can do it, I can do it. It also works the other way. If nobody is telling me I can over come my situation its hard to have dreams. If everyone in your community isn't aspiring to do great things in life it's hard for you as a young kid to see beyond your current situation. In Steph's case while he was told he couldn't make it to the league... he saw success in his home with his mother and father and encouragement along the way. LeBron on the other hand didn't.
This is no slight to Steph but before we deem Steph as more relatable to me, you, or any child in the U.S. it's important to lay out all of the cards other than the blatantly obvious. Sure Steph is what a lot of men should aspire to be but do they have the examples and ability to see what a family man is supposed to look like. To be honest given LeBron's upbringing and where he is in his life today, husband, basketball player, and man of God his story is far more compelling and relatable to me than Steph's. Especially given the epidemic of black male fathers, husbands, and men in the church. Sure, he's 6'9 250 but you have to look at the individual and far more individuals can relate to that upbringing then Steph. So before we label Steph as the Golden child when it comes to a man beyond basketball we need to take a hard look at what has made him the model for a men in America.
