How LeBron James Has Shut All the Haters and Critics Up

LeBron James ended last season in the worst possible manner. His continued disappearing act in the fourth quarter drew a ton of criticism and rebuke.

After an offseason that began with a much-criticized "Decision" and a smoke machine enhanced celebration, the critics and haters reveled in his failure. 

This year, he's been playing with an intent that is quieting his critics and disappointing his haters.

He's not playing to be the hero like he did in Cleveland. He's not playing to be the villain like he did last year in Miami. This year, he looks like he's playing to win. 

There's a word that describes the manner of his play that hasn't been used until now—calm. 

It's like he's found out something that he's never really found before, a kind of inner drive to win. He's focused on winning, not performing, and as a result his performance has reached a new level. 

His numbers this year are off the charts.

He's scoring 29.7 points, grabbing 8.0 rebounds and dishing 7.6 assists per game. His field-goal percentage is a ridiculous .593. He's stealing 2.0 balls per game and blocking 0.8 shots. 

His defensive performance is equally "video game." His opponent's PER is 8.4. His own is 35.2. His defensive rating is just 94.0. 

James is a beast. That's always been the case.

Now he's playing like a beast on a mission. He's playing like he's just trying tear through the regular season and get to the postseason to prove himself.

He's not playing to quiet his critics or to prove anything to his haters, but in the process he's doing so. What's different about this year's LeBron is that he's not playing for the crowd. He's not playing against them. He's not trying to prove himself to anyone but himself.

And really, that's what he's always needed to do. Rather than try to find some kind of outward motivation, he's finding an inner drive.

That's what Kobe Bryant's been famous for. That's what Dirk Nowitzki had last year in his irrepressible run last year. It's what LeBron has this year. 

The thing that prevented him excelling in the finals had nothing to do with talent, but everything to do with self confidence. I don't want to say "heart" because I don't believe it's about "heart." Words like "quit" are cheap and easy to throw around. 

He didn't quit. He didn't give up.

He just reached a point where all the external forces, positive or negative, weren't able to give him the drive he needed. He had to find his own personal drive, and that's not something he was used to having, because it's not something he was used to needing.

When he didn't have that, doubt crept in and then his game fell apart. This year, he's playing to that one, isolated critic—himself. 

In the end, that's really the only critic that matters.