LeBron James is one of the greatest of all time. A statement that is obviously true, but still garners criticism. James is one of the most polarizing figures in the NBA. Some fans absolutely adore him, but there are some who just can’t stand him. James has a lot of haters, and will continue to do so for as long as he is successful. As a player, dealing with hate comes with the territory. In fact, players often walk into opposition arenas amidst a chorus of boos, jeers, and profanity, and are expected to perform at the highest level. But what does LeBron think of all the hate?
Unsurprisingly, he feeds off of it. In an appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’, guest host Arsenio Hall asked James what he thinks about the haters and opposition fans giving him and his teammates a hard time. Hall mentioned that Kobe Bryant once said that he enjoys a little bit of that hate for motivation. And James held the same opinion. He looks at the hate and opposition fan abuse as an added reason to perform at the highest level and defeat the team to prove a point to them.
“To feel that adversity, to feel that tension is what brings out the best in us. Your whole motivation, besides trying to win the game obviously is shutting up opposing fans in the opposing crowd and making them go home and get no sleep.”
These comments by James come as no surprise. For any player in the NBA, they prepare themselves to face hostile environments on a regular basis. But for James, that hostility is always at the highest level, because of his talent, legacy, and overall history in the league. Since the 2010s, James has been one of the most hated players on the plan. And naturally, he has used that motivation to take his game to another level.
This season, his detractors got the last laugh, as James got knocked out in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the hand of Phoenix. It would be fair to assume that James has a lot of motivation to find championship success next season.
