Why I No Longer Hate LeBron

[Kay.Bee09]

I've always respected his game, but I've grown up watching the NBA and I can't fathom the thought that three top 20 players, two in their prime and one at the end, teamed up to win a championship.

Like I said, I grew up watching the league, so I can remember the Bulls, the Supersonics,the Rockets, the Jazz, the Spurs, the Magic, the Trail Blazers, etc, in the 90s. Yes, the Bulls did dominate the majorly, but there was still competition, passion, and heart. I loved the fact that talent was so spread out and players left their hearts on the court. Barkley, Malone, and Stockton didn't even win rings, but I have so much more respect for them than LeBron. It's hard to explain. I guess if you weren't a fan during the 90s, you wouldn't understand, but I've lost so much interest for the NBA now because it seems all about hype, fame, and money and less about the game itself.

Props to LeBron for finally stepping up when it counts, but it still just doesn't seem as authentic.

I'm pretty sure that's a combination of hindsight bias, selective memory, and a reaction to about 150,000% more media coverage talking.

A lot of it does have to do with media hype, hence the reason I don't even watch ESPN anymore. I do recognize the fact that LeBron is an amazing player, but I can't get with the whining and flopping, as a fan who grew up watching the 90's NBA.

I do hate him less, after he held his own in Game 6/7, but I don't think I'll ever be his biggest fan.

[Celtics4ever]

Both HEAT championships have huge * by them with loads of help from no calls.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

I just don`t like the way the NBA mediaverse is soooo fixated with Lebron. Whether or not its making him out to be a pantomine villain or the 2nd coming of Superman it bugs me. I couldn`t stand watching NBA action during these final cos it created the impression that Lebron was winning the games entirely on his own.

[SHAQATTACK]

Since I wasn't watching NBA at that time - I wonder if MJ got the same "treatment" from non-bulls-fans NBA followers.

Yeah, I've long thought that I would have hated the Bulls, and been really disappointed that there weren't more parity in the league.  But I think eventually I would have just reached a point where I appreciate seeing history being made by the greatest player ever.

I watched all the games during MJ's reign...... Back then he was THE MAN in sports and everybody liked him as an athlete and I never rooted against him and bulls .  I liked watching them play.

To me he was more dominate over every player in the game, he was in his on league SKILL wise ,  he did everything fantastic.    LBJ is a more physical dominating player , maybe not the most skilled player on the court all the time.  MJ was a better version of Kobe.IMO.

MJ's appeal faded , as he tossed basketball aside to do other things.

[Moranis]

Since I wasn't watching NBA at that time - I wonder if MJ got the same "treatment" from non-bulls-fans NBA followers.

Yeah, I've long thought that I would have hated the Bulls, and been really disappointed that there weren't more parity in the league.  But I think eventually I would have just reached a point where I appreciate seeing history being made by the greatest player ever.

I watched all the games during MJ's reign...... Back then he was THE MAN in sports and everybody liked him as an athlete and I never rooted against him and bulls .  I liked watching them play.

To me he was more dominate over every player in the game, he was in his on league SKILL wise ,  he did everything fantastic.    LBJ is a more physical dominating player , maybe not the most skilled player on the court all the time.  MJ was a better version of Kobe.IMO.

MJ's appeal faded , as he tossed basketball aside to do other things.

I think it faded because he was **** and people finally started to report it.

[JSD]

Excellent post. Consider writing for the front page.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Since I wasn't watching NBA at that time - I wonder if MJ got the same "treatment" from non-bulls-fans NBA followers.

Yeah, I've long thought that I would have hated the Bulls, and been really disappointed that there weren't more parity in the league.  But I think eventually I would have just reached a point where I appreciate seeing history being made by the greatest player ever.

how old are you?

I'm in my mid-twenties, so I was in kindergarten / elementary school when Jordan was doing his thing.  Even so, I didn't really get into the NBA until around the time the Celtics were making their championship run in 2008.  That's what really ignited my passion for the game. 

Kevin Garnett yelling "Anything is possible!" at the rafters is something I'll never, ever forget.

If you saw MJ play like i did you would have way more respect for him than that Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.bag lebum. tougher teams, tougher play then. WHat turns more people off also is all the bandwagon nuthuggers that follow lebum.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Since I wasn't watching NBA at that time - I wonder if MJ got the same "treatment" from non-bulls-fans NBA followers.

Yeah, I've long thought that I would have hated the Bulls, and been really disappointed that there weren't more parity in the league.  But I think eventually I would have just reached a point where I appreciate seeing history being made by the greatest player ever.

how old are you?

I'm in my mid-twenties, so I was in kindergarten / elementary school when Jordan was doing his thing.  Even so, I didn't really get into the NBA until around the time the Celtics were making their championship run in 2008.  That's what really ignited my passion for the game. 

Kevin Garnett yelling "Anything is possible!" at the rafters is something I'll never, ever forget.

If you saw MJ play like i did you would have way more respect for him than that ****bag lebum. tougher teams, tougher play then. WHat turns more people off also is all the bandwagon nuthuggers that follow lebum.

oh and if MJ did not take two years off to play baseball he probably has 8 rings. he had just did enough and pursued other options. Cannot blame him.

[BballTim]

Actually, from what I understand about him--which, admittedly, comes mostly from puff pieces and the like--I'd say that Bosh is probably one of the more likeable dudes on the Heat. The guy chose his college for academic reasons(!), has a foundation that emphasizes children's literacy and generally seems like a dork in the Tim Duncan mold.

  For some reason when I see Bosh the word "intelligent" never enters my mind. Quite the opposite. I didn't like Jordan and don't like LeBron, although (reluctantly) I was somewhat hoping they'd beat the Spurs, who I despise.

[jambr380]

I hate LeBron.  He's easy to hate.  He gloats, he flops, he whines about every call that he doesn't get, even though he gets way more calls than he should, and he throws teammates under the bus when need be.  I find him to be a bit of a bully, and not merely in a competitive way.

That said, he's without question the best player in the NBA.  That he wasn't the unanimous MVP this year was a joke.  He came up huge in this series when he needed to.  He single-handedly kept them in the game in the 4th quarter of game 6, and he just nailed jumper after jumper tonight, while being a fierce rebounder and very active in the passing lanes.  I'm not sure the Heat without LeBron are any better than the Celtics without Rondo.

I hate him, but I acknowledge that he is in a class by himself in the NBA right now.

TP - I pretty much agree with this. Lebron is great, just amazing at the game of basketball, but [other than his level of competition], I think he is a horrible role model for kids.

Time after time, he just doesn't get it. While Shane Battier was his usual humble self and said, 'very timely,' when asked about his shooting in last night's game, Lebron went off about how hard he worked and he was and proving all his doubters wrong. Dude, you don't have doubters - you're awesome.

From the decision to jumping up and down on the sidelines  last year to his facial expressions in every situation to the new Dr. Dre commercial in his private court overlooking South Beach, the guy is just a total knucklehead and completely socially inept.

Please please please Lebron, learn some freakin' humility.

[scaryjerry]

Yawn....these posts pretty much need to stop....does anyone truly hate Lebron? Or just hate him in the sports context? He deservedly won another title doesn't mean I have to like it, like him or root for it....he's a flopping, whiny cry baby, petulant child...when it went his way sure he said the right things.....how about hats off to the amazing and classy spurs and Tim Duncan....now they're easy to cheer for.

[BballTim]

Yawn....these posts pretty much need to stop....does anyone truly hate Lebron? Or just hate him in the sports context? He deservedly won another title doesn't mean I have to like it, like him or root for it....he's a flopping, whiny cry baby, petulant child...when it went his way sure he said the right things.....how about hats off to the amazing and classy spurs and Tim Duncan....now they're easy to cheer for.

  Hate the Spurs, hate Popovich.

[CapnDunks]

What did LeBron do?  He came out in that Game 6 and had the best game of his life.  He stepped up to the challenge and proved why he's an all-time great.  He didn't just live off his talent and the favorable refereeing.  He went to another level, and nobody could match him. 

Even though this was a crushing game emotionally, it was when i started to respect Lebron. He played with intensity I hadn't seen before. It made me respect him for the first time. I still hate him. But more the way I hate Kobe and less in the way I hate DWade. I hate Wade so much. I hate Spoelstra. I agree Bosh is pretty likable.

[dreamgreen]

Unless he is wearing GREEN I hate the guy!

[scaryjerry]

What did LeBron do?  He came out in that Game 6 and had the best game of his life.  He stepped up to the challenge and proved why he's an all-time great.  He didn't just live off his talent and the favorable refereeing.  He went to another level, and nobody could match him. 

Lebron didn't have the game of his life in game 6, unless you're taking about game 6 last season against us....he was a Ray Allen jump shot away from being a"choker"