Miami Heat: LeBron James' Top 10 Enemies
After LeBron James' "The Decision" fiasco, James became the most hated man in the NBA.
Outside of Miami, seems everyone has taken displeasure in James and his move to South Beach. Whether jealousy or just plain spite, people have had harsh words for the kid from Akron. This list compiles James' harshest critics. Dan Gilbert, Otis Smith, and yes, Charles Barkley; they're all here.
Enjoy!
10) Orlando Magic (Players)
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What was Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic players thinking when they mocked LeBron James and his pre-game rituals? In February, King James took his talents to Orlando for an anticipated showdown with the Magic. Prior to tip-off, Howard and his teammates mocked James photography ritual and powder toss.
James, not amused by the antics, went into revenge mode-immediately. He stung the Magic with 23 first quarter points. He finished the game with 51 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Dwight Howard finished the game with 17 points and an embarrassing loss.
9) Phil Jackson
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Phil Jackson is the king of mind games, so it didn't surprise us when he turned his attention to the guys in Miami. LeBron James and the Heatles have taken all the headlines away from Jackson and the defending champions which couldn't be satisfactory with Phil.
Jackson has sent great one-liners to the team in South Beach, comparing their offense to a X-Box video game and questioning their crying in the locker room.
Seems Phil is worried about Miami. He coaches Kobe Bryant but knows the best player in the league plays for the Miami Heat.
8) Daniel "Boobie" Gibson
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The on again-off again friendship between LeBron James and Daniel Gibson is becoming annoying. Are these guys friends? They have been behaving like an old married couple lately.
It started with James trash talking his former teammate in his return to slaughter Cleveland last year. Either LeBron's words really offended Gibson, or his feelings were just hurt from the whipping he took that night.
The friendship seemed to be patched up later that week, only to sever months later. This time, Gibson was doing the talking, proclaiming himself as the new king of Cleveland. This proclamation offended James who took to Twitter with his disgust. After fiery tweets back and forth, we will say the relationship is off again...no, on again...wait, I'm confused.
7) Joakim Noah
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Who can forget the scene of LeBron James stopping a game two years ago to respond to Joakim Noah's allegations of showboating? I call it masterpiece theater!
Noah and James make for good rivals. They are both tall, athletic and very physical players. James may have had his way against Noah in recent years as a Cavalier, but this season belongs to Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls. It was Joakim who contested a game-winning layup by James in the Bulls last meeting with James' Miami Heat. Let's hope the Bulls and Heat face off in the playoffs. I'm sure LeBron and Joakim will give us plenty of soundbites.
6) Otis Smith
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Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith thought LeBron James was more of a competitor.
I guess that is why James dropped 51 points on Orlando in February. LeBron slammed shut any title window the Magic had been peaking through with his decision to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami so can you really get mad at Smith? I mean the guy is practically going to lose his job because of LeBron.
5) Boston Celtics
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The Boston Celtics have been a thorn in LeBron's side.
They stand between him and destiny. Had the Celtics not demolished the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year's playoffs, James may have never bolted to South Beach.
The fact remains that the Celtics are much better than the Miami Heat. LeBron will have to overcome the Celts ferocious defense to make it back to the finals.
4) Kobe Bryant
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Didn't think the "King" and the "Black Mamba" were friends did you?
It was LBJ who led the comeback for the East in this year's All-Star game to steal Kobe's MVP, although he fell short. LeBron knows he is in Kobe's shadow. James wants to be the best and knows Bryant is his biggest threat. Kobe, at 32, is still determined to be the greatest basketball player in the world.
This rivalry should provide more than enough fireworks between the two great stars for at least a few more years.
3) Charles Barkley
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"Hi Chuck!" With those words and a cupcake in hand, LeBron James fired back at Charles Barkley in his 2010 "Rise" commercial. Barkley was the most outspoken critic of James' move to South Beach last summer. He called LeBron everything from "stupid" to a "punk."
But who can blame the Chuckster? He's obviously bitter about never taking the opportunity LeBron James jumped at. Still, his swipes at King James were a source of great hilarity.
2) Dan Gilbert
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Dan Gilbert and LeBron James have become sworn enemies. In Gilbert's mind, James is a traitor who turned his back on an organization he spent seven years with. In James' mind, Gilbert is the ungrateful owner who always took his talents for granted.
Gilbert chastised LeBron in his open letter to Cleveland fans after James' decision to leave Cleveland. Traitor, immature and bad role model are all names Gilbert threw around about James. LeBron responded by saying his former owner's true colors were now showing.
In the end, one hopes these two can sit down and talk like men...but we won't be holding our breath.
1) The Larry O'Brien Trophy
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The Larry O'Brien trophy is LeBron James' No. 1 enemy.
LeBron is in his eighth season in the NBA, yet his fingers are empty. Winning an NBA title is No. 1 on James' list of priorities. The Miami Heat have to win multiple titles to be considered successful and pressure is stacked on LeBron's shoulders. If the Heat can get the monkey off their back in their first year together, we might just get the five...six...seven NBA titles James predicted.
