Almost one year ago, the NBA fans witnessed what could be the most controversial news in this decade.
Lebron James, who spent his first seven years as a professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers, announced on an ESPN Special that he’d be taking "his talents to South Beach" to team up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
But little did James know that decision would soon lead to hatred.
Fans from all across the nation displayed their anger towards James by burning his paraphernalia and giving him the nickname “The Villain”. A name that caught up to his game on the court as the Miami Heat suffered a letdown against the Dallas Mavericks in last season’s MVP Finals.
But the question is, was James’ way of informing people on his decision right? He doesn’t think so.
On Dec. 6 James appeared on ESPN once again, but this time to express his sorrow.
In an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols, James said "I play the game fun, joyful, and I let my game do all of the talking and I got away from that. That's what I lost last year. Going through my first seven years in the NBA I was always the "liked one" and to be on the other side -- they call it the dark side or the villain or whatever they call it -- it was definitely challenging for myself. It was a situation I had never been in before, and it took awhile ... it took a long time to adjust to it."
All the hype and talk about the big three caused the Heat into what most would call, a roller coaster ride season. It was tough for James to be himself, but as Miami started winning—James periodically showcased his style of playing. But on a broader view, James was simply not himself and he realized it too.
"It basically turned me into somebody I wasn't," James said. "You start to hear 'the villain,' now you have to be the villain, you know, and I started to buy into it. I started to play the game of basketball at a level, or at a mind state that I've never played at before ... meaning, angry. And that's mentally. That's not the way I play the game of basketball."
It’s safe to say that James’ personality was not brought to Miami with him, but expect for a change this up-coming season he says. The smiles and the dancing around and the horse play will all be back. For all the fans that dislike James, let’s face it—he is an incredible player that brings excitement to the game. He clearly cares about his fans’ feelings as he voiced his regrets. Despite leaving the Cavaliers give him another chance as he tries to establish himself with another team.
