John Cena once entertained the NBA world to a great extent via his statements regarding LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Almost all basketball fans should know that KD and LeBron are two of the greatest players of the modern generation and are otherworldly talents.
Cena needs no introduction to any part of the sports world and is an incredibly well-known wrestler, actor, and more. The WWE star was given the opportunity to host the 2016 ESPYs. He took full advantage of the situation and made a very astute analysis regarding the narrative surrounding LeBron and KD. With that being said, let us take a closer look and find out more.
John Cena joked about LeBron James’ heel turn in the NBA
Since LeBron has been in the league longest when compared to the rest of the players, one can accept that he has experienced and seen the most. From the media to the fans to interactions with teammates, coaches, and other members of management, there are very few things that LeBron has no knowledge or information about.
Due to the interesting trajectory that King James’ career took, he was viewed differently by fans based on the team he was playing for. LeBron was loved during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers but viewed as a villain when he left the Cavs to join the Heat. He then returned to the Cavs and was adored again. Cena subtly pointed out that this constant change in identity forced the NBA to give another star the role of being the bad guy.
“Especially when you look at the whole story. Ok LeBron, you used to be a good guy. And then you turned into a bad guy and now you’re a good guy again? You left the NBA hanging. What are they going to do when they don’t have a bad guy? Exactly what we do. They’re going to make a new one.”Images of Durant and LeBron flashed on the big screen behind the WWE wrestler as he made these statements. It is certainly an interesting concept to think about at a deeper level. After all, creating narratives around players based on their career choices is something that is greatly debated and discussed by fans.
Why has Kevin Durant faced more scrutiny than LeBron James?
Although LeBron dealt with a fair amount of backlash after joining the Miami Heat, it is nothing compared to what Kevin Durant underwent after leaving the OKC Thunder to play with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. While both stars left their teams to join contenders and win championships, they are viewed quite differently by fans.
After all, the Heat were not defending NBA champions when LeBron joined the team. Moreover, the Warriors were the team that eliminated KD and the OKC Thunder before he joined them. Therefore, the notion that Durant joined the team that defeated him gained a lot of traction.In any case, Cena’s point may also make fans wonder which future NBA star will be viewed as a villain after LeBron James and Kevin Durant retire from the league.