With the Game six victory against the Toronto Raptors, LeBron is headed to his 6th straight NBA Finals appearance, a feat accomplished by only an elite group of NBA players. Along with his accomplishment, the hate is skyrocketing, and the question is still pending. Why do we hate LeBron?
We hate LeBron because he really hasn't changed. Besides his improvement in physical prowess, LeBron still possesses the same consistent, unshakable mentality that he possessed during his initial years in the league. He is completely unaffected by what we say about him, which is why our hate towards him has never stopped - he's just never reacted to it.
LeBron probably has no idea exactly what we say about him. He disconnects himself from all types of media during the post-season. Yet LeBron surely has the idea that people believe his Eastern Conference victory was a piece of cake, and that he's played 'easy' teams, which makes the Eastern Conference less challenging. I agree - the Eastern Conference is less challenging, but when we say LeBron is definitely going to win the Eastern Conference, we have already established his greatness to a certain extent. We expect things from him, and then we hate him. What does that say about us?
We really do not see the time and the effort LeBron James, or any NBA player at that, puts in behind the scenes. After becoming the poster-child of the NBA, LeBron has not let the media get to him. The time he puts in crafting his game has always been a determining factor of his gameplay. Yes, he is blessed with physical prowess, but he also didn't let his talent go to waste by not crafting it through hard work.
The same year he made his transition from the Miami Heat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cavaliers made the NBA Finals. Players like JR Smith and Iman Shumpert, who were only classified by certain skill-sets and spent years on teams they didn't blend in, are now thriving with LeBron James. Three superstars - Love, Irving, James - blending in within a two-year time frame. Sure, there's a lot to work on, and, in my opinion, Love is not being used to his full potential. But when's the last time we witnessed harmony between three face-of-the-franchise superstars in a two-year time frame, on top of immense criticism and back-to-back Finals appearances, with one of the players making his sixth consecutive trip to the promised land?
Yes, LeBron flops. But what's the point? Almost every single NBA player flops, and I absolutely hate it. But what are you going to do about it? You're going to belittle his accomplishments because he sold a few calls throughout his career? Does that mitigate his presence on the court? If selling a call gives him the edge, why wouldn't he sell the call? He's LeBron James, and just like any other NBA player, he wants to win.
Ask LeBron anything you want during that post-game interview, and he will respond to you respectfully and with humility - a trait he did not always possess, but one that he has developed.
So why do we hate LeBron James?
Simple.
He does what every other NBA player does - he just does it better.
