LeBron James Decision: Cleveland Fans Surprised by the Real LeBron James

For Cleveland Cavaliers fans, it started on May 11, 2010.

For others out there, they saw it long before and when they said it out loud, we vilified them for it.

In the end they were right.

But we defended LeBron at all costs. Don’t laugh at us; Kobe’s fans aren’t any different.

They defend him and make excuses for him and applaud anything the guy does, no matter how insignificant.

But LeBron was more than the superstar on our basketball team; more than possibly the best player in the NBA.

He was one of us. Born here. Raised here. Possibly the best player in the world, who typically carried himself with class, and who never had legal issues, who cared about the history of the sport, who seemed to understand his legacy in the NBA’s timeline. From Northeast Ohio playing for Northeast Ohio.

The man was more than king. He was a sports god. Flawless.

And then May 11th happened.

We sat there horrified as we watched Game Five against the Celtics. The Cavaliers, who were going to have their backs against the wall if they lost this game, played horribly.

At the center was LeBron James.

LeBron, who never gave any public grief to the coaching staff, was suddenly glaring at the bench.

LeBron, who singlehandedly crushed the Detroit Pistons in 2007, moved on the court like he had better things to do.

Final score: Boston 120, Cleveland 88.

The image of the man we had loved and defended started to come unraveled. Then came the postgame press conference. When asked about his poor performance, LeBron responded that the fans were spoiled by how great he normally plays.

What? Wait.

He didn’t say that the loss was on him and that as leader of the team, he has to play harder. He didn't take responsibility in any way.

No. Instead, he reminded us that he was great.

Cleveland fans who had defended him so endlessly, weren’t defending him this time. They let him have it. There were lots of early signs to those not emotionally invested in LeBron, but for the fans, it started right there.

Then came his free agency. The way he wouldn’t respond to Tom Izzo. The way he was acting like a diva. He made the teams come to him. He remained distant from the Cavs. Where was our guy? Where was the Akron native we worshipped?

And then, my god, there was the announcement of the ESPN hour-long special dubbed, The Decision .

I spoke to a friend of mine and said, “I don’t know who he’s going to pick Thursday, but even if he picks Cleveland, he’s going to have to explain his recent behavior.”

He explained it alright. He chose to go to Miami.

People said no way this guy would do all of this and go on national television and rip the hearts from the fans of Cleveland. It seemed too cruel.

He did.

And in that moment, we didn’t just lose our superstar from our basketball team, which now seems destined for mediocrity. We lost someone we all admired. I joked about being 42 and caring so much about an athlete. Had he not been from here, I don’t think I would have. But I did.

He was one of us, right?

Wrong. He’s not one of us. He’s just another selfish athlete who cares about himself more than anyone else.

As for those national remarks, criticizing him? They said LeBron didn’t have what it takes to be the man. They were right.

LeBron’s choices were New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, the Clippers, and Miami. On five of those six teams, James would have instantly been the man.

The Chosen One, instead, chose the one: Miami.

I still can't believe it. I keep arguing with LeBron, but not the LeBron he turned out to be—the one we thought he was.

And then I think of who he turned out to be, and except for the effect it will have on my favorite NBA team, I'm glad to see him go.

Because I don't like the real LeBron.

I lost respect for him on the court and off. Not because he left Cleveland; he had every right to make that decision. It's how he did it.

And who he turned out to be.