How does a basketball superstar go from winning four NBA championships with three different teams, being christened “King,” and enjoying the adoration of fans young and old all over America and throughout the basketball world, to being voted by fans “the most hated player in the NBA”? Easy.
By behaving like LeBron James.
More precisely, by being LeBron James.
During Michael Jordan’s magnificent career, Gatorade ran a popular ad campaign titled “Be Like Mike.” Kids across America wanted to “be like Mike.” Grown dudes wanted to “be like Mike.” Maybe it’s just me but I can’t recall ever hearing anyone declare he or she wants to “be like LeBron.”
On the contrary, according to a recent study from BetOnline that compiled negative tweets about players, James is the most hated player in the NBA by a massive margin; he received more “hate tweets” than any other player.
(Click to expand, or see the screenshot, below.)
We scoured the internet over the last days to figure out which NBA player is the most hated.
The answer will *NOT* surprise you. pic.twitter.com/TskOKfXoGR
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) March 24, 2022
Here's the expanded graph, showing James running away from the competition. Well done, King. pic.twitter.com/rrQpQyzOrx
— Hold My Beer (@RealLibSmacker) March 26, 2022
Let’s put this in perspective by looking at the reality of professional sports in America. American sports fans love their sports heroes. They revere their heroes — warts and all. They generally forgive their heroes. Some even idolize their sports heroes. They always have and I suspect they always will.
Except for LeBron James.
Among James’s “greatest hits,” he threatened a police officer with a “You’re Next” tweet after the officer shot a 16-year-old knife-wielding girl who was about to stab another girl.
James was thoroughly dismantled by Texas Senator Ted Cruz for kissing up to “communists” “tyrants,” and “murderers” in China.
The “King” was blistered by noted Civil Rights attorney and Fox News contributor Leo Terrell for running his mouth after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The multizillionaire with armed bodyguards and more security than most heads of state ridiculously said:
We are scared as Black people in America. … Black men, Black women, Black kids. We are terrified.
Oh please.
"We are scared as Black people in America. … Black men, Black women, Black kids. We are terrified."
LeBron shared a powerful message on Jacob Blake and what it's like to be African American in America. pic.twitter.com/UOMD7rk7Bd
— ESPN (@espn) August 25, 2020
Daily Caller’s David Hookstead nailed James, as well.
LeBron James continues to act like a child, and his behavior is downright embarrassing.
If we wouldn’t tolerate his actions from a kid, why fans and teammates tolerate it from a grown man?
He needs to grow up.
Memo to Dave: LeBron James is a 37-year-old self-anointed expert on everything “racist” and hypocritical as hell, including first and foremost himself. With more money than God. He is not going to grow up.
LeBron James continues to act like a child, and his behavior is downright embarrassing.
If we wouldn't tolerate his actions from a kid, why fans and teammates tolerating it from a grown man?
He needs to grow up. pic.twitter.com/bXAW1OHQlJ
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) March 16, 2022
While I’m not a fan of GOAT arguments — “greatest of all time” athletes — in any sport (there are multiple factors to consider well beyond championships), it seems to me that the “greatest of all time” in any profession should include how a professional performs or behaves away from his or her job. By that measure, LeBron James is not the greatest of all time in anything.
That is, other than working damn hard to reduce himself to “the most hated player in the NBA” of his time.
Somewhere, Michael Jordan is smiling.
Additional related “exhibits” on RedState:
An Open Letter to LeBron James
King of Fakers LeBron James Weighs in on Rittenhouse Testimony
LeBron James Sinks to New Low in the Wake of the Shooting of Two LA Deputies
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