LeBron James Could Not Hate Cleveland More
- Fred
- 18 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Our local Sports Radio affiliate, 92.3 the Fan in Cleveland, had me yelling at the radio, not once, but twice this last week. Both topics had to do with, arguably, the NBA's Greatest Player of his Generation, LeBron James.
Take I: Cleveland Should Be Grateful for Their ONE Championship
Hosts Ken Carman and Anthony Lima were debating LeBron's Legacy on their morning drive show and they said that they were surprised at how many people weren't grateful that LeBron brought the Cleveland Cavs their first Championship and Cleveland itself its first Championship since forever (technically 1964).
Damn straight I'm not grateful.
Don't forget, when LeBron James was 18 years old, it wasn't a forgone conclusion that he would go to the NBA for, at the time, only a handful of players had successfully jumped from high school to the NBA. But in the shadows, there were whispers that James' Family was already taking bucketfuls worth of money under the table, making him ineligible for college ball.
It's reckless of me to report rumor and innuendo? It was a scandal on the local news when LeBron showed up to a high school practice in a $50,000 Hummer and declared it was his. His single Mother, who was struggling with homelessness just 5 years earlier, was now able to lavish her son with extravagant gifts? Curious.
So when LeBron was drafted by Cleveland, he only had 2 real world choices:
Go to Ohio State and be ruled ineligible before he even hit the court.
Accept the Cleveland Cavs' offer of a 4-year, 18 million dollar contract.
Of course Businessman LeBron chose the NBA, it "officially" lifted James and his Mother out of poverty. After that first league-slotted contract, LeBron did NOT sign a max deal, but a shorter deal so he could hit free-agency in his prime at 25.
You remember The Decision? What is forgotten is that LeBron chose Miami, but then had his agents come back to the Cavs and ask for a sign-and-trade. The Heat couldn't offer LeBron the most money, but LeBron's team said either lose LeBron for nothing, or do a sign-and-trade so James could secure that max deal. The Cavs had no leverage and made the deal for draft picks and trade exceptions with their arms twisted behind their backs.
After LeBron won 2 Championships with the Miami Heat in 4 years, the Heat were in quite a pickle. They had the best team in the NBA, but owner Micky Arison didn't want to give James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade ALL max contracts and pay the supporting cast as well. Arison didn't want to be in luxury tax hell.
So free agent James looked for the best situation for LeBron James.
But, behind the scenes, things weren't all peaches and cream in South Beach. The Heat were still "Wade's Team" and no one ever addressed who knew the severity of Bosh's blood clots and when. Within 2 years of Lebron leaving, Bosh was out of the NBA with serious health issues.
LeBron James returned to Cleveland on a series of shorter deals where James made max money, but made sure owner Dan Gilbert would spend into the luxury tax. James didn't come home for sentimental reasons, he came to a place where he would be "the Man," had a supporting cast good enough to play in the Finals (Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love), and had carte blanche for his side endeavors.
It is here, in his 13th season, where LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship. As soon as that Championship was won, Irving got wind that James wanted to leave again, and asked for a trade out of town. Why so much drama? Because while LeBron jumped from team to team, the Golden State Warriors built a Superteam:
Steph Curry - 17 seasons in Golden State / 17 seasons in NBA / 4 NBA titles
Draymond Greene - 14 seasons in Golden State / 14 seasons in NBA / 4 NBA tiles
Klay Thompson - 11 seasons in Golden State /13 seasons in NBA / 4 NBA titles
And, here's the money shot:
Kevin Durant - 3 seasons in Golden State / 18 seasons in NBA / 2 NBA titles
If you look back, LeBron James' career arc is much more similar to Kevin Durant's than Steph Curry's.... FOR THE TEAM THAT DRAFTED HIM.
Every decision was a business decision for LeBron James, from how to win, to making the most money,....until he got to Los Angeles.
Once in Los Angeles, he talked about his production company. He talked about being a position to make business deals. He talked about his family being comfortable. After the "Bubble Title," James was fine with rubbing shoulders with Jeanie Buss and going home after the first round. The passion for winning ebbed away because Los Angeles provided everything LeBron wanted off the court.
LeBron James himself is still derided by Lakers Fans as "no Kobe Bryant."
Let's go back to 2003 when LeBron was drafted. If you could into see the future and told me that James would be the Greatest of his Generation and would be an all-star in 22 of his 23 seasons, I would say FANTASTIC!
"That means we will win, what, 5, 6, even 7 Championships in Cleveland? Even better than Michael Jordan in Chicago?" Would be my reply.
Uh, not exactly. You get 1, but LeBron gets 4.
I would not be happy.
Take II: LeBron Should Return to Cleveland for a THIRD Time
The hosts asked Sirius XM NBA Radio host Brian Geltzeiler if he thought that LeBron coming back to Cleveland for a third stint was in the cards. Geltzeiler said there was a ZERO percent chance of LeBron returning to Northeast, Ohio. He said there were 3 teams in play during the offseason: The Lakers, the Clippers, and the Golden State Warriors.
And, again, the word comfortable came up, LeBron is very comfortable in Los Angeles.
Then, driving home, I didn't catch the guest's name, but he said it's a 90% chance LeBron stays in L.A. But L.A. could feasibly mean the Clippers, as the host reiterated LeBron's displeasure with the new Lakers ownership group.
I cannot believe that LeBron went from "doing anything" to win a championship a decade ago, to sticking it to Mark Walter today.
"I don't like playing in Cleveland, and I'm from there." - LeBron, April of 2026
LeBron hated being the villain in Miami, he wants to be the hero.
Supposedly, LeBron James' business manager, Maverick Carter, has dropped plans for a league to rival the NBA.
If that report is untrue, and Carter and James do launch a significant afront to the NBA, LeBron will become the biggest villain in NBA History, that script will flip.