Remembering 'The Decision' 7 years later

It feels like it all happened a lifetime ago, but LeBron James' choice to spurn the Cleveland Cavaliers and head to South Beach in a televised special tore through the league like a hurricane.

Yes, July 8, 2017 marks the seventh anniversary of "The Decision."

You can draw a line from July 8, 2010 through almost every meaningful event in recent NBA history.

The Miami Heat's four-year run of dominance intersected with memorable battles against names synonymous with greatness like Dirk, Tim, and Pop. The Heatles - LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh - re-contextualized a trio of Hall of Fame careers. They also effectively killed off a Celtics run atop the Eastern Conference that, barring injuries, might not have been blown up so ignominiously.

LeBron's Heat team also stymied the last rendition of a Thunder squad that featured Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka. If Oklahoma City beat Miami in the 2012 Finals, there's a good chance that two or three of those players are still playing on the same squad. Instead, they're all on different teams, with nothing more than "what-ifs" remaining from what could have been a generational dynasty in an atypical market.

Of course, with LeBron gone in Cleveland, the Cavaliers plunged into obscurity winding up with the No. 1 pick in three out of four seasons. However, LeBron's exit in 2010 set the stage for his return to Cleveland in 2014. One of those picks became Kyrie Irving; the other two were packaged to acquire Kevin Love. The city would claim the first championship banner in franchise history in 2016. LeBron went from Public Enemy No. 1 to Homecoming King.

We're still feeling the aftermath of The Decision today. An updated collective bargaining agreement has led to shorter contracts and greater year-to-year roster turnover. Proactive front offices clear the books years in advance for a chance at luring an All-Star (or two) with a lucrative maximum contract.

LeBron's personal greatness and desire to play with other great players in Miami and now back in Cleveland has set the bar ridiculously high for his opponents. Superteams have been around for decades, but teams face a grim reality today: if they don't put three or four All-Star-caliber players on the same roster, there's a good chance they're not beating a healthy LeBron-led team.

So if you don't like the Golden State Warriors' transcendent all-around team, you might have to blame LeBron's individual incandescence.

After all, if the King can be convinced to leave his kingdom, you might be able to convince Kevin Durant to explore greener pastures too.