NBA superstar LeBron James is opening up about how the media and spectators put him in a “dark place” following his sudden move to the Miami Heat in 2010.
While golfing with the crew of “Bob Does Sports,” LeBron James touched on many points throughout his 23-year career in the league, including why he never wants to play for Memphis.
LeBron James Took The ‘Villain’ Role In 2010 To Experience Something New
James spoke about his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavs in 2010 and sign with the Miami Heat during the latest “Bob Does Sports” podcast.
The father of three said he took on “the villain role,” adding that he was young and most people didn’t realize he had never been outside of Ohio.
“My first seven years with the Cavs, I still stayed in my hometown of Akron,” he said. “So, it was my first time ever leaving, going to Miami.”
LeBron James Let The Outside Noise Put Him In A ‘Dark Place’
James went on to say that another reason he left Cleveland was to “do something different.”
However, he wasn’t prepared for the “backlash” that was headed his way, so it had a greater impact on his well-being than he believed it would.
“So I allowed the media, I allowed everybody to put me in a dark place — and me enjoying basketball… and life in a dark place has never been me,” he said.
His mental health also affected his performance that season, James said. “The reason I played the way I played in the finals is because I wasn’t me,” he added. “Shedded that black hat, shedded that villain role, I’m gonna get back to my f—ing self and boom! We came in… balls to the wall and was able to make it happen.”
LeBron James Was Ripped By Cavs Owner Following His Departure In 2010
James’ exit from the Cavs seemed understandable for most at the time, as he’d been with the Cleveland-based team for seven seasons and had not won a championship.
Cavs’ owner, Dan Gilbert, however, joined in to publicly bash James in an open letter, in which he called the NBA All-Star “selfish,” “cowardly,” and “narcissistic.”
“Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us,” the letter read, according to ESPN. “The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.”
Gilbert was worked up that he even promised the Cleveland fan base a championship before “the self-titled former ‘king’ wins one.”
“If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels,” Gilbert continued.
James Was Hurt By Gilbert’s Letter, Said He Believed It Was Racial
Things between Gilbert and James smoothed over in 2014, however, when James returned to Cleveland to help bring a championship to the city.
CBS Sports reported that Gilbert appeared apologetic for his letter after reaching a deal with the NBA champion.
“I told him how sorry I was, expressed regret for how that night went and how I let all the emotion and passion for situation carry me away. I told him I wish had never done it, that I wish I could take it back,” he said.
James broke his silence on Gilbert’s letter during a 2017 interview with GQ, admitting that he believed the letter was “racial.”
“So, you know, I don’t really like to go back on that letter, but it pops in my head a few times here, a few times there. I mean, it’s just human nature. I think that had a lot to do with race at that time, too, and that was another opportunity for me to kind of just sit back and say, ‘Okay, well, how can we get better? How can we get better? How can I get better?” James stated.
James Said He Would Never Play Full Time In Memphis, Tennessee
Another portion of James’ interview on the “Bob Does Sports” podcast has sparked widespread attention, per The Blast.
While discussing the league’s teams, James said the NBA should move the Memphis Grizzlies to Nashville to attract more people, citing Vanderbilt, NASCAR, and the Nashville Predators.
“Staying at the f-cking Hyatt at 41 years old. You think I wanna do that sh-t? Being in Memphis on a f-cking random -ss Thursday?” he said.
James later laughed at the idea of playing in Memphis. “Yeah, they know,” he said. “Their only chance was in 2003 if they won the lottery, and I might’ve pulled an Eli Manning and not shown up.”
Social media users slammed the Olympic gold medalist, with one user writing, “It is actually extremely disappointing and painful to see so many people talk down on the city of Memphis and suggesting our ONE franchise move to Nashville, especially considering the racial/socioeconomic undertones and tension when discussing the two cities as is.”