2010 LeBron James Sweepstakes

[Lights Out]

I don't agree. "The Decision" taints his reputation as a "guy." That is, it's why people hate him.

I disagree that "The Decision" is why people hate him, since he was already hated before he even left Cleveland.

I don't think that's completely true. I think many people were pretty indifferent on LeBron as a person beforehand, but suddenly saw him as an evil after The Decision

He was already being called a "choker" when his Cavs team lost to Orlando despite him averaging 38.5 points per game on 48% shooting with 8.3 rebounds and 8 assists per game. He was being called a "quitter" for no apparent reason when he put up a triple double in the deciding Game 6 against the Celtics the following year and again his team failed him. Lots of people were comparing him to Karl Malone and Dominique Wilkins, swearing he was never going to be a champion. "The Decision" didn't create the hate, it just helped fuel it.

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

[Nyk33]

I don't agree. "The Decision" taints his reputation as a "guy." That is, it's why people hate him.

I disagree that "The Decision" is why people hate him, since he was already hated before he even left Cleveland.

I don't remember anyone really hating on LeBron before "The Decision". LeBron was about as liked as I remembered Michael being before he made an idiot out of himself with "The Decision" and that celebration they had right after.

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Because clearly LeBron doesn't have a cult following at all in the NBA.

[Lee Noire]

Other than needing to get away, why not stay and work for that hometown ring in the first place, if it meant so much? Just playing devils advocate here.

He addressed that in the article - he didn't realize how much it meant to him it until after the fact. Makes perfect sense to me, and I've been a harsh critic of his.

Yeah your right. It does make sense. I just hate when people suggest that his two rings are tainted somehow because he was in Miami. That's just bonkers to me.

Let's all agree that it's not LeBron's decision per-se of going to Miami which "taints" his championship legacy. It's "The Decision" (the way he chose to play for the Heat) which haunts his every prallace until otherwise.

I don't agree. "The Decision" taints his reputation as a "guy." That is, it's why people hate him.

The perceived "taint" in the championships is that he needed to form a "super team" to win them (and that he's 2-3 in finals). Sure, every star has good teammates but this is the star core ever to say "let's play together."

Which brings me back to my question: Less satisfying to who? LeBron, the fans, or the media? I remember when Barkley said that because he put together a "super team" that his rings aren't as satisfying as if he won them "on his own" like Jordan or Kobe, which is untrue on so many levels.

The people that believe in that made up ideal that stars have to do it alone feel his wins aren't as satisfying to them. That's the problem. It'd mean more to them, if LeBron won "by himself" in CLE. Again, I'd argue that his first two rings he won along side some of his best friends and people he could trust/depend on. Lord knows that wasn't the case in CLE back then. Home is home, but I think he will greatly value his MIA rings as much as everyone else will value his future ring in CLE.

[Mac the Knife]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Wait... what?

[McCall]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Wait... what?

You gotta take what he says with a grain of salt... on a whole rim of salt... with a batch of margaritas.

[The_Admiral]

Never mind LeBron's cult following, also popularly known as Deadspin.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Wait... what?

Deadspin is generally focused on players over owners, young over old, and flexibility over conservatism. If there's something that challenges popularly accepted notions of how things should be, Deadspin is generally on board with that. There's also a bit of contrariness and dick pics for good measure.

I get what LO is saying about LeBron being a threat to Jordan and Kobe fanboys, but I also think that's a bit of projection. I like James quite a bit, but in contrast to Jordan and Bryant, he went elsewhere to play with good talent, while those other guys had guys come to them. It also helps that Chicago and LA are nice places, while Cleveland is terrible.

At this point, I'm happy to watch LeBron do what he wants and just enjoy a great player in his prime.

[HedleyLamarr]

MOD EDIT

[dbadefense1990]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

So by your logic, the people in Cleveland were OK and happy when LeBron made "The Decision" until those meddling Jordan and Kobe groupies brainwashed them and all of America to despise "the most beloved athlete in all of America."

Just. Stop. Now.

MOD EDIT

According to Lights Out, a 17-year-old Kobe Bryant in 1996 committed a more despicable, inhumane crime to the game of basketball more-so than 2010 LeBron did in his prime on national-TV.

[Phils Phan]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Yep all those Jordan and Kobe Cavalier fan cult followers...

MOD EDIT: completely unnecessary.

L.

[Lee Noire]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Yep all those Jordan and Kobe Cavalier fan cult followers...

MOD EDIT

I don't want to mini-mod or be captain save a ho, but is that really necessary? We are having a good discussion here and insults just muck things up. Can't we all just get along?

[DS729]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Yep all those Jordan and Kobe Cavalier fan cult followers...

You're either a pathetic troll or an even more pathetic fanboy.

MOD EDIT

No need to pile on.

L.

[CubsFanBudMan]

The funny thing, Lights Out, is that LeBron was not a threat to Jordan's legacy, as much as ESPN tries to skew the numbers in his favor.

It was way too early in 2010 to suggest that, and it still is. His career is nowhere close to over. Let's see what he can do in Cleveland. Winning there even once will help his legacy more than staying in Miami another four years and going 2-2 again.

I think losing to the Spurs in the Finals might have jogged a memory and he realized, "I could do this much -- and have -- in Cleveland."

[Nyk33]

The funny thing, Lights Out, is that LeBron was not a threat to Jordan's legacy, as much as ESPN tries to skew the numbers in his favor.

It was way too early in 2010 to suggest that, and it still is. His career is nowhere close to over. Let's see what he can do in Cleveland. Winning there even once will help his legacy more than staying in Miami another four years and going 2-2 again.

I think losing to the Spurs in the Finals might have jogged a memory and he realized, "I could do this much -- and have -- in Cleveland."

I would have to disagree with that one.

Leading Miami to 2 more titles and 4 more Finals appearances would help his legacy more than winning one in Cleveland.

[IceCap]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

I really don't see that as the case at all. Jordan and Bryant have already carved out their places in basketball history. What James does won't affect their established legacies.

No one thinks Gordie Howe is a no-talent schmuck just because Wayne Gretzky broke all of his records.

[FiddySicks]

Let's be real, the actual reason LeBron is hated so much is because Jordan and Kobe have huge cult followings among NBA fans and LeBron has been considered a threat to their favorite players' legacies from day one.

Wait... what?

You gotta take what he says with a grain of salt... on a whole rim of salt... with a batch of margaritas.

Except that he's pretty much spot on. You can't even try to tell me a lot of the hate Lebron gets doesn't stem from the threat he is to Jordan and his top spot legacy.

[CubsFanBudMan]

The funny thing, Lights Out, is that LeBron was not a threat to Jordan's legacy, as much as ESPN tries to skew the numbers in his favor.

It was way too early in 2010 to suggest that, and it still is. His career is nowhere close to over. Let's see what he can do in Cleveland. Winning there even once will help his legacy more than staying in Miami another four years and going 2-2 again.

I think losing to the Spurs in the Finals might have jogged a memory and he realized, "I could do this much -- and have -- in Cleveland."

I would have to disagree with that one.

Leading Miami to 2 more titles and 4 more Finals appearances would help his legacy more than winning one in Cleveland.

Being 4-5 in NBA Finals is impressive in its own way, but not "Let's compare notes with Jordan and Kobe" impressive. Winning where no one could win in decades, not just in the NBA, but every sport, will give places like ESPN the ammunition for the narrative of "he sacrificed titles in Miami to bring one to Cleveland" and "who knows how many titles he could have won if he stayed in Miami."

Just like people say/said Jordan would have won eight straight had he not retired. But in reality that's unlikely for many reasons.

Of course, going to eight straight Finals in my LeBron example would be incredible, but nobody cares about the ones you lose.

[See Red]

The funny thing, Lights Out, is that LeBron was not a threat to Jordan's legacy, as much as ESPN tries to skew the numbers in his favor.

It was way too early in 2010 to suggest that, and it still is. His career is nowhere close to over. Let's see what he can do in Cleveland. Winning there even once will help his legacy more than staying in Miami another four years and going 2-2 again.

I think losing to the Spurs in the Finals might have jogged a memory and he realized, "I could do this much -- and have -- in Cleveland."

I would have to disagree with that one.

Leading Miami to 2 more titles and 4 more Finals appearances would help his legacy more than winning one in Cleveland.

Being 4-5 in NBA Finals is impressive in its own way, but not "Let's compare notes with Jordan and Kobe" impressive. Winning where no one could win in decades, not just in the NBA, but every sport, will give places like ESPN the ammunition for the narrative of "he sacrificed titles in Miami to bring one to Cleveland" and "who knows how many titles he could have won if he stayed in Miami."

Just like people say/said Jordan would have won eight straight had he not retired. But in reality that's unlikely for many reasons.

Of course, going to eight straight Finals in my LeBron example would be incredible, but nobody cares about the ones you lose.

Jordan's teams were also really, really good. How else can you explain a team losing the best player in the league for two years and still winning 55 and then 47 games? This is why the championship argument is completely ridiculous. It's Lebrons fault Dwyane Wade is a shell of his former self? It's Lebrons fault his teammates on Cleveland were awful? Again, the Bulls won 55 games in a season without Jordan. Lebron leaves Cleveland and they go from a 61 win team to a 19 win team.

The whole argument is still ridiculous. They're different types of players and they play in different eras. Hell, zone defense wasn't even legal when Jordan played.

[HedleyLamarr]

The Bulls still had Phil Jackson, right?

[See Red]

The Bulls still had Phil Jackson, right?

Yep.