Sportscenter aired a two-part interview with LeBron James this week. LeBron talked about the Finals last season and how he felt returning to Cleveland as a part of the Miami Heat. Once the interview ended I kept thinking about one thing LeBron mentioned. He said he embraced the villain role and played basketball with anger instead of having fun.
I noticed that he did play with more aggression last season than he did in Cleveland. He heard all the hate from fans and LeBron wasn’t used to that. He wanted to be the guy everyone liked, not someone people hated.
I still like LeBron because he went to a team that would give him the best shot to win a title. Cleveland couldn’t get him any other big name players which forced him to score over 30 points a game. In Miami he wouldn’t have to get that many to just have a shot to win. LeBron could rely on Wade or Bosh to have a big night and win.
LeBron was never the villain. Cleveland fans hated him for leaving but he was never the villain. Fans burned his jersey but he was never the villain. All he did was go somewhere that would give him a chance to win which is what pro sports is all about. He’s now learned to laugh at every bad remark or joke about him and move on. LeBron has also learned to get rid of his anger and play for the fun of it.
That’s how I’ll remember him, playing the game because he loved it and enjoyed it. When fans and analysts look back they’ll see this past season stand out from all the rest. It will be the one that was filled with anger and adversity. From here on out he’ll be better which will lead to more people liking him again, not hating him.
