The Lebron Hate
Yo, the hate is real.
LeBron James is a once in a lifetime talent. He’s 6’9”, probably closer to 275 than 250, runs like a gazelle, and can jump out of the gym. We’ve never seen anyone like him before and probably never will again.
Ever since he was a senior in high school, Lebron James has been the most polarizing sports figure I have ever seen. And mind you, much of this polarization occurred before he stepped one foot in the league.
He wasn’t the one who called himself “The Chosen One". That name was given to Lebron by Sports Illustrated when the magazine did a cover story on him as a junior in high school. He wasn’t the one who forced ESPN to show several of his games live on national TV his senior year. He wasn’t the one who created a constant media circus. He was the one who, after he signed a mega-million deal with Nike while still in high school.
You mad bro?
Lebron was the highest touted player ever to come out of high school, the first overall pick, and rookie of the year. He even got drafted by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, which is what every kid dreams of growing up. The local hero come to save the long-suffering city of Cleveland from years and years of sports failures.
So we all know the story, he couldn't win the big one on in Cleveland and he decided to take his talents to South beach and play with Dwayne Wade. He was called a coward, a bitch, a whore, and every word you can think of. And you know, maybe in some ways, he deserved some of it..... from the citizens of Cleveland.
I would be pissed too if my hometown hero up and jumped ship on me and left us with no hope and no chance at winning.
But what about everyone else? Here are some of the millions of reasons people hate Lebron James. Some valid enough that warrant criticism, but many more are just petty and jealousy laden.
So he can't be great because he enjoys the game?
LeBron James is a once in a lifetime talent. He’s 6’9”, probably closer to 275 than 250, runs like a gazelle, and can jump out of the gym. We’ve never seen anyone like him before and probably never will again.
Ever since he was a senior in high school, Lebron James has been the most polarizing sports figure I have ever seen. And mind you, much of this polarization occurred before he stepped one foot in the league.
He wasn’t the one who called himself “The Chosen One". That name was given to Lebron by Sports Illustrated when the magazine did a cover story on him as a junior in high school. He wasn’t the one who forced ESPN to show several of his games live on national TV his senior year. He wasn’t the one who created a constant media circus. He was the one who, after he signed a mega-million deal with Nike while still in high school.
You mad bro?
Lebron was the highest touted player ever to come out of high school, the first overall pick, and rookie of the year. He even got drafted by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, which is what every kid dreams of growing up. The local hero come to save the long-suffering city of Cleveland from years and years of sports failures.
So we all know the story, he couldn't win the big one on in Cleveland and he decided to take his talents to South beach and play with Dwayne Wade. He was called a coward, a bitch, a whore, and every word you can think of. And you know, maybe in some ways, he deserved some of it..... from the citizens of Cleveland.
I would be pissed too if my hometown hero up and jumped ship on me and left us with no hope and no chance at winning.
But what about everyone else? Here are some of the millions of reasons people hate Lebron James. Some valid enough that warrant criticism, but many more are just petty and jealousy laden.
- He sported a CHOSEN1 tattoo on his back before he could legally vote. People saw him as arrogant and entitled, using evidence like his tricked out orange hummer and suspension for improper benefits.
- LeBron surrounds himself with yes men, never being told no, always getting his way, and incapable of accepting responsibility when he fails. It was never his fault. It was Dan Gilbert. His teammates.
- He’s immature, and childish, hams up injuries for the camera, and lacks the fortitude necessary in an all-time great. The truth is we love arrogance and bravado when the greatest athletes among us showcase it. But LeBron’s arrogance has always felt like an act, seemed unnatural and forced.
- LeBron has constantly backed down from that moment in his career. He lacks aggressiveness and the assertion necessary to take over games.
- If Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson had the physique and athletic gifts of LeBron James, they would be the best player in the world hands down… and it wouldn’t even be close.
- LeBron receives more scrutiny and criticism than anyone else in sports because everyone, even his critics, recognize the greatness brewing inside of him, that he fails to live up to.
- LeBron James is the greatest player in the world, he’s above reproach, and if you criticize anything he does then you’re just an emotional, jealous fan with no understanding of basketball and no ability to separate your heart from your brain.
- The all-time greats get the players to come to them.
- LeBron loves basketball, and wants to have a good time, but he lacks the drive to be the greatest that the others before him had, like MJ, Kobe, Magic, and Bird.
So he can't be great because he enjoys the game?
- We all hoped he could live up to the hype, but what LeBron’s done, time and time again, since he got into the NBA, is cower away from the burden of that responsibility, and taken the easy way out.
- LeBron won his first title in a lockout year, shortened season when the league MVP tore his ACL, and then again in 2013, when Rose went down again, along with Kobe Bryant.
- LeBron James may win the title this year, and he may win it again down the line., but it won’t matter. His legacy has already been written. He’ll never be the greatest basketball player.
LeBron James just became the first NBA player in over 60 years to reach the NBA Finals in five consecutive years, but I know that’s not enough for the haters.
The Cavs, without Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving for two games, just swept the 60-win Hawks, who had home court advantage. I know you never believed in the Hawks all season and the Cavs were were the real favorites.
LeBron James was averaging 27.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 8.3 apg so far in the 2015 playoffs. In the finals he's averaging 41.5 points, 12 rebounds and 8.5 assist through two games.
LeBron does it all because he has to. What is there to hate. People hate him because he doesn't always get it done. Ok. That just makes him human. He isn't perfect. He has short comings and we know it. But he's humble, a team player, and STILL great.
But all the rest is just a smoke screen. The real reason people hate Lebron James, and I'm not talking about the ones who simply criticize his game play, because that's just what we as educated fans do, but the haters, you know who they are.
The one who crack endless jokes on him just for the sake of it. The ones who give him stupid derogatory nicknames and call him everything negative under the sun. The ones who nitpick and put finality on his career like he's anywhere near done. the ones who call him a quitter or a fraud. The ones who lament his lack of willingness to close out games.
The fact is these are people who are protecting the legacy of 3 people. Bird, Kobe and of course MJ. Fans of these three don't want to see anyone come along and be regarded as better than their idols. And these three cover all categories of basketball fans over the past 40 years.
You have your Larry Bird, great white hope fans. You have your MJ, 90's basketball fans, and your new age Kobe fans. These fans are vocal and they have an agenda to not let this guy name Lebron replace their favorite player as the face of basketball. Especially if he isn't as good in some areas as their favorite player growing up.
You see, our minds are shaped as youth and we hold on to those fond memories. I never grew up watching Wilt and Russel, but my father did and he says they are the greatest ever. I grew up on Jordan, he's the best ever to me. Because I have strong fond memories of his dominance.
Today, Lebron is the best. But some have an agenda to make sure he doesn't erase everything that the players from the past did for the game. They hate him because he's great, and they can't stand for him to overshadow their heroes.
To that I say, GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
Enjoy the great players we have today. Respect the talent level and effort Lebron James plays with on a nightly basis. A player who isn't all about his stats. He's about the team and making everyone better.
That's a superstar to be celebrated, not hated. Haters.
The Cavs, without Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving for two games, just swept the 60-win Hawks, who had home court advantage. I know you never believed in the Hawks all season and the Cavs were were the real favorites.
LeBron James was averaging 27.6 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 8.3 apg so far in the 2015 playoffs. In the finals he's averaging 41.5 points, 12 rebounds and 8.5 assist through two games.
LeBron does it all because he has to. What is there to hate. People hate him because he doesn't always get it done. Ok. That just makes him human. He isn't perfect. He has short comings and we know it. But he's humble, a team player, and STILL great.
But all the rest is just a smoke screen. The real reason people hate Lebron James, and I'm not talking about the ones who simply criticize his game play, because that's just what we as educated fans do, but the haters, you know who they are.
The one who crack endless jokes on him just for the sake of it. The ones who give him stupid derogatory nicknames and call him everything negative under the sun. The ones who nitpick and put finality on his career like he's anywhere near done. the ones who call him a quitter or a fraud. The ones who lament his lack of willingness to close out games.
The fact is these are people who are protecting the legacy of 3 people. Bird, Kobe and of course MJ. Fans of these three don't want to see anyone come along and be regarded as better than their idols. And these three cover all categories of basketball fans over the past 40 years.
You have your Larry Bird, great white hope fans. You have your MJ, 90's basketball fans, and your new age Kobe fans. These fans are vocal and they have an agenda to not let this guy name Lebron replace their favorite player as the face of basketball. Especially if he isn't as good in some areas as their favorite player growing up.
You see, our minds are shaped as youth and we hold on to those fond memories. I never grew up watching Wilt and Russel, but my father did and he says they are the greatest ever. I grew up on Jordan, he's the best ever to me. Because I have strong fond memories of his dominance.
Today, Lebron is the best. But some have an agenda to make sure he doesn't erase everything that the players from the past did for the game. They hate him because he's great, and they can't stand for him to overshadow their heroes.
To that I say, GET THE FUCK OVER IT.
Enjoy the great players we have today. Respect the talent level and effort Lebron James plays with on a nightly basis. A player who isn't all about his stats. He's about the team and making everyone better.
That's a superstar to be celebrated, not hated. Haters.