10 reasons LeBron James is hated: a definitive guide
LeBron James is loved and hated, adored and derided, worshiped and burnt in effigy. He is the conduit which inspires divisive emotions and has managed to earn the affection of millions while alienating millions of others. It seems that half of the world wants to see him get his due while the other half grinds their teeth praying for him to get his supposedly just desserts.
Touted as the next big thing back in high school, LeBron has bulldozed his way into the history books with performances which may never be replicated. And yet for some reason, we love to hate him. Here’s a look at 10 reasons he’s hated so much, with an attempt to see if all the hate is justified.
1) Offensively challenged
When we talk about the greatest players to ever play the game, offensive prowess is given prominence. This is especially true if the player in question is anything but a center. Critics of LeBron James often point to his offence, or lack thereof, as his Achilles heel.
There is no question that LeBron James cannot light up a scoreboard like Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant can. Those two can average over 30 points a game in a heartbeat, but LeBron apparently cannot. Even though he’s done it in the 2007-08 season and he is averaging 27.2 points per game for his career.
James has led the league in scoring for just one season for a reason. He focuses on getting his teammates involved and taking over a game in crunch time. If LeBron tries to score on every possession, the defense will key in on him and reduce his efficiency. So what he chooses to do is pick his spots on offence while spreading the shots on the floor.
It is true that his jumper has let him down time and time again. The playbook on stopping him still says to let him beat you from afar. James doesn't carry a team by scoring though, he emboldens the team with his all-round play. He is the only player who can instantly make any team a near contender by himself.
There isn't another player in the league who can consistently give you 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. What's astonishing is that LeBron has made that stat line so commonplace, that he barely seems to exert himself while he claims his throne night in and night out.