LeBron James has been the face of the NBA for over two decades, but despite his almost spotless record on and off the court, a vocal segment of fans and pundits continue to pick him apart.
Whether it’s his team choices, political activism, or contract decisions, LeBron seemingly can’t win with some corners of the basketball world. And former NBA coach and analyst Stan Van Gundy has had enough.
On the Nothing Personal with David Samson podcast, Van Gundy delivered a passionate and pointed defense of the four-time champion and all-time leading scorer, calling the hate surrounding LeBron both irrational and undeserved.
“LeBron’s gotten a little hate for a long time for a lot of different things. Whether it was his decision to come to Miami that he announced on TV, whether it was bumping into Eric Spoelstra. Whatever it is, LeBron’s gotten a lot of hate for a guy who’s had the best career of any NBA player, ever.”
“And we can argue who the best player has been in the NBA, but it’s hard to argue that anyone’s had a better career.”
“The most amazing thing to me is, this guy has been a national figure since he’s been in eighth grade, what’s the biggest off-court controversy you’ve got on this guy? This guy has done nothing except represent the game of basketball and the league well.”
“And yet, there’s this hate for him. I have never understood the negativity around him. I think a lot of it was there’s so many people out there who just revered Michael Jordan and the fact that people would question, ‘Is LeBron as good?’ led to a hatred of LeBron instead of an appreciation of what he’s done. And I think that’s unfortunate.”
That distinction matters. LeBron’s body of work, from being a national phenom in eighth grade to playing at an elite level at age 40, stands unmatched. The longevity, consistency, championships, individual accolades, and clean off-court reputation make him an all-time icon. Yet, Van Gundy can’t understand why the criticism hasn’t subsided.
One major reason, Van Gundy believes, is Michael Jordan. LeBron has always been measured against the gold standard of basketball greatness. But unlike Kobe Bryant, who openly patterned his game after Jordan, LeBron carved his own path. He doesn’t play like MJ, speak like him, or avoid social issues like him. And that, Van Gundy believes, is part of why Jordan loyalists remain defensive and dismissive.
LeBron’s recent decision to pick up his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for a 23rd season also drew flak. Critics claimed it tied the Lakers’ hands in free agency and questioned his commitment to winning. But Van Gundy believes that’s unfair.
And while Van Gundy admits the current Lakers team, even with Luka Doncic, might not be championship caliber, he doesn’t see LeBron’s decision as a betrayal of winning. Instead, he sees it as a logical move from a man who has earned the right to write the final chapters of his career his way.
