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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Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) talks to the media after game six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) talks to the media after game six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

The entire state of Ohio was on the LeBron bandwagon throughout the season. As for the rest of the country, not so much. It was the same situation in Miami, when the Heatles insulated themselves in a South Beach bubble.

In 2010 it was easy to hate on LeBron.

Who holds a championship ceremony before the season even starts?

Who has the audacity to actually use the phrase “takes my talents”?

What’s with all the posturing?

The same goes for 2015. As the playoffs wore on and his supporting cast fell apart the heel character grew.

He called himself the best player in the world.

Great ones do it; they don’t need to say it.

Whether right or not, the perception was that he absorbed credit for the team’s success, rather than deflect it towards teammates.

The best players elevate their teammates.

He was hurt until he wasn’t. Seemingly every foul or miscall was followed by histrionics. And on top of that, ESPN reporting his daily routine made him seem less workhorse and more diva.

Fans expect Kobe Bryant to eviscerate teammates on the court and in the media. LeBron playing the role of village a–hole was out of character.

Making bug eyes and complaining about every little call is Dwight Howard’s modus operandi; LeBron should be above that.

And all the naps, treatments and massages are a far cry from the #JustAKidFromAkron agenda that was pushed throughout the spring and summer of 2014.

After LeBron made these similar missteps in Miami his PR team re-calibrated. People like the guy who’s happy, not the cocky dude in front of the camera. Even though he’s superhuman on the court, there’s an everyman, youthful Midwestern likability to him. And as much as the public likes “nice LeBron,” apparently so does he – LeBron admitted, after a trying first year with the Heat, that he does not like playing the role of villain.

Expect the same tune-up to happen over the course of this offseason and into next year. Fewer leers, more smiles. Less me, more us. James has a smart nucleus, and it will once again rework his image.

Next: 4: Team synergy

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