There are rarely sports figures that become as polarizing as LeBron James. It’s rare to find anyone who has no opinion on the incredible athlete. Most people either hate the guy's guts or believe he is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, with almost no one sitting in between those camps.
To be fair, if most people were honest, there is plenty to criticize Lebron for both on and off of the court, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he deserves all the hate he gets. Whether anyone loves him or hates him, there is a lot to say about LeBron James.
10 Love: His Highlight Reels
Even those that don’t like LeBron James have to admit that the guy has some of the most exciting moments in basketball history. Just about every game in which he takes the court is one that could be used as his dedicated highlight reel.
Whether he’s working his way to the rim, getting all the rebounds he can, or shooting from as deep as Steph Curry, Lebron manages to impress on all fronts. Few players have as good an all-around game as Lebron, and that’s hard for some people to swallow.
9 Hate: Oversaturation Of The Star
With LeBron being one of the best modern basketball players, and often in the conversation for the greatest player of all time, it only makes sense that he winds up getting a lot of coverage. Unfortunately, all his coverage has led to many growing a kind of disdain for the star.
LeBron is talented for sure, but there are just as many talented performers in the NBA who don’t get the coverage that they deserve. When every ESPN clip seems to include LeBron, and all basketball coverage tends to come back to home when he isn’t even in the initial conversation it’s hard to not get a bit annoyed.
8 Love: His Work Ethic
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Both on the court and off the court, LeBron works hard. It’s another thing that even haters of LeBron can acknowledge. His level of success doesn’t just happen without putting in a ton of work.
LeBron is often one of the most active players on the court whenever he’s playing, but he also maintains a social media presence that makes it clear he’s always ready to get some practice in with friends, teammates, and family. Even outside of basketball, Lebron has plenty of other ventures that he puts a lot of time and care into.
7 Hate: He Left Cleveland Twice
One of the biggest moments of LeBron’s career that garnered him the most hate was the moment that he left Cleveland. One of his biggest reasons for leaving was his belief that the team couldn’t win the NBA Championship, something fans immediately turned on LeBron for.
Sure, he would return later (more on that in a bit), but he would then go on to leave the team for a second time after some less than stellar performance thanks to an injury. He was able to bring the team a championship, but for many, it was too little too late.
6 Love: He Returned To Cleveland
There were a lot of Cleveland fans that were hurt by LeBron's high-profile exit from the team, but many hoped that he’d one day return to help end their championship curse. LeBron did indeed return, and he did manage to end that championship drought, something that many appreciated.
He wouldn’t spend all that long back with the team, but the few years were enough for many fans to warm back up to the basketball star. That NBA Championship win certainly helped turn the angry fans into grateful ones as well.
5 Hate: He’s Overly Self-Important
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When someone rises to the star status of someone like LeBron James, it’s almost impossible to avoid appearing like you’re a bit too into yourself. Many people believe that LeBron has bought into his own hype, something that has caused many controversies and led to many unhappy fans.
There was one rather high-profile and somewhat hilarious instance of LeBron creating a social media post to preemptively congratulate himself for a milestone, something that his biggest detractors turned into a hilarious meme. At least those that hate him can find some joy in the negative emotions.
4 Love: He Started A Charity Foundation
Pretty much anyone can appreciate an athlete that uses their money to give back to the world. It’s not something that anyone has to do, but it is something that every sports fan can respect. LeBron, like many athletes, has set up his own charity foundation.
The LeBron James Family Foundation has been in operation for a few years now and tackles a number of different causes that affect the world. The foundation is credited with the opening of schools, medical centers, and even an entire housing complex.
3 Hate: He’s Always Compared To Jordan
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While to many, LeBron is absolutely a beloved figure in the NBA, no one will ever top the legend that is Micheal Jordan. Some credit Jordan as the man that popularized basketball as a whole for a broad audience with his exciting play and never-say-die attitude.
Thanks to that, LeBron is often compared to Jordan, something that many basketball fans hate. On statistical levels, James has surpassed Jordan in a lot of ways, but many still say Jordan is the greatest for a variety of reasons.
2 Love: He Is An Inspiration For The Next Generation
A point that ties into a lot of reasons for why people love James is the fact that he is an inspiration for the next generation of NBA players. While each young NBA hopeful likely has their own stars they idolize, it would be a shock to learn that many of them wouldn’t name Lebron as their inspiration.
His rags-to-riches story mixed with his drive to become the best is something anyone can look up to. His constant goal-setting throughout his career is yet another thing that many athletes, not even just basketball players can respect.
1 Hate: His Outspoken Views
No list of why people hate LeBron is complete until there is a mention of his outspoken views on the world. Whether anyone agrees with him or not on the many things he speaks his mind on, any conversation involving politics or social issues is bound to create some level of hate.
Many that truly hate LeBron for his outspoken views tend to cite his inconsistent world views, his quickness to jump on a situation without all the relevant information, and his often lack of apology or walk-backs when something he’s said or claimed is proven false.