It is rightly said that the media hypes you up only to pull you down. LeBron James was dubbed ‘the chosen one‘ by fans and analysts. The all-around great of the Los Angeles Lakers has been well-known to the public ever since he became an NBA player in 2003 and was a high school sensation. And James has amassed his fair share of critics under that type of scrutiny.
Despite being among the most successful NBA players with accomplishments hard to pen down, LeBron James is the most hated and criticized player in the league. When asked about the most unfairly put athlete, renowned journalist Carri Champion, naming LeBron James, once said, “If he’s not in the finals, he’s a failure,” and she couldn’t have put it more correctly.
“I’m like gosh, what he does is so disrespected and I’m not saying it cus he’s a laker, he has critiques and he is trash-talked more than anybody,” she added. It is hardly surprising that King James has an eclectic mix of supporters and detractors, given his lengthy career.
LeBron James was named the most hated NBA player by Forbes
If there was a real list of players that are most hated in the world, King James would definitely top the list. Forbes once stated that LeBron James was the most hated player in the NBA, according to a survey done by X. It was hardly shocking, particularly if your preferred side had suffered a defeat at the hands of this major league icon—whom some have dubbed the greatest player in history.
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
The study’s data must be informed by statements like “LeBron sucks” or “I hate LeBron,” according to the research. He is, in fact, the most despised player in the NBA in 24 different states, according to research done on more than 70,000 hashtags and tweets. LeBron James is widely considered one of the best players of all time, if not the greatest, in spite of his hateful fans.
Reasons why LeBron James is hated despite his accomplishments
While there are no concrete reasons to hate LeBron James according to analysts, if you ask fans, they will definitely have some harsh words against the Lakers legend. Most people still hate him for “The Decision” episode that came in 2011. It’s because he departed from his home team and organization with hardly a trace of integrity. The reason for this is that he has demonstrated an unparalleled degree of entitlement.
Another reason for hating James is also a reason for many to love him. Because LeBron is the sole person diminishing Michael Jordan’s legacy and is even called better than him by many fans, NBA fans despise him even more.
But when will this end? This love-hate relationship with LeBron James has only one way out, and that too came from someone in the NBA. One of James’ former teammates on the Heat and one of their “Big 3,” Hall of Famer Chris Bosh, stated that the incredible career of James won’t be completely recognized until he retires from the game. Maybe then fans will love him for his longevity and accolades and forgive him for his shortcomings along the way.