Fansided

LeBron James is the villain now, but it won’t last for long

By Jonathan Bass

June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks to media following the 104-91 loss against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks to media following the 104-91 loss against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks to media following the 104-91 loss against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks to media following the 104-91 loss against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

We’ve seen this hero-villain cycle from LeBron James, and if history tells us anything he’s about to hit the upswing.

Picture life like a boat’s helm: where when you’re at the top, everything is perfect; at the bottom nothing goes properly; and in-between things are even keel – not too high, not too low. This is known as the rota fortunae (translated: wheel of fortune). Don’t get down when in the skids, because the wheel will spin again and soon you’ll be on top. Be mindful when the world is your oyster, because just beyond each peak is a valley.

The concept can be extrapolated to just about any facet of life: personal relationships, work, a band on the radio, and even your favorite athlete.

We’re been here before with LeBron James. Here, it appears, is somewhere between what Marc Stein referred to as “‘Peak LeBron’ and the corresponding ‘LeBron Nadir.'” Right now, despite his heights on the basketball court, James is the game’s biggest villain. It’s fun to watch him play, even more fun to root for him to fail. It’s all so oddly familiar.

Five years ago James ripped the heart out of his home state on national television. He decided to take a basketball sojourn and hang with his buddies in Miami. With little more than eight words he effectively flipped from the world’s most beloved player to King Heel.

What followed was a lack of self-awareness, struggles with a young coach, difficulty meshing with his new teammates and a home court, Game 6 loss in the NBA Finals. LeBron tried to embrace the role of bad guy and, despite the bravado, never seemed comfortable in his own skin.

Fast forward half a decade.

College is over. LeBron is back home. And yet he’s in the same unwelcome space: rookie coach, public miscues, griping teammates and a home court, Game 6 loss in the NBA Finals.

If history from LeBron’s Miami years continues to dovetail with his most recent stint in Cleveland, then we should prepare to say goodnight to Bad Guy LeBron. This time next year we’ll be lauding him for casting off the latest albatross from around his neck.

Don’t believe it? Consider the following.

Next: 5: Public miscues

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