Miami Heat Forward LeBron James's Next "Decision": What Should He Do?
No matter how great a player Lebron James is, in order to truly be loved again by all NBA fans, he must stop "embracing his role as the villain."
In Lebron James' recent infamous Nike commercial, he repeatedly asks the audience, "What should I do?" One of the options he presents is to "embrace his role as the villain."
This option seems to have resonated with Lebron, as this season, for the first time in his career, he has been playing with an edge.
The aggressiveness and physicality that define Lebron's game still remain, but a new dimension has been added. Lebron is not afraid to kick opponents when their down, take shots at other players, and he seems to enjoy the role of being on the NBA's new most hated franchise.
The list of examples is numerous. After the Lakers blew out the Cavs by 55 points in January, Lebron posted the following comment on his twitter account-
"Crazy. Karma is a b****. God sees everything!"
The message, of course, was seen as an attack on Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who posted an angry message on the Cavaliers website the night of Lebron's decision, criticizing him for the way he handled himself throughout the process.
"The Decision," as it has come to be known, is perhaps the most damming piece of evidence in the Lebron saga. To announce news like that on a nationally televised program was a very insensitive way to handle the situation.
Ever since, fans of the NBA (outside of those in Miami) have held a grudge against Lebron, and it appears that instead of letting go, Lebron is using the hatred to motivate him.
Since then, a series of arrogant (and even bizarre) behavior has followed.
In a July interview with GQ magazine James stated he would change "nothing at all" about the way he handled the decision. In another interview with CNN, James stated that "there's always a race factor" when asked about fallout from the decision.
And anyone who watches Heat games sees how Lebron is more emotional and outspoken on the court.
During fast breaks he looks to dunk the ball with authority. After a particularly impressive play, Lebron is often seen talking trash on the court.
The fallout from the decision has clearly left Lebron angry at the league. He feels under appreciated and is using anger as a defense mechanism.
He feels winning titles will solve all his problems—and maybe it will. Maybe Lebron is not that athlete who needs everyone to love him.
But deep inside, Lebron must feel differently. During all his years with the Cavs, he never played with anger, but instead with respect and integrity for the game.
He was universally loved across the NBA. Now, that feeling is replaced by boos in almost every arena he enters. That has to be an emotional strain on him.
Can Lebron win a title being the villain? Of course.
But Lebron will never win back the hearts of NBA fans being the villain.
