Was LeBron wrong about his comments after the 2011 Finals?

[Wally450]

"All the people that was rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day they gotta wake up tomorrow have the same life that they had before they woke up today. Same personal problems that they had today. I'm gonna continue to live the way I wanna live.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYdN_UQ_Tik


He caught a lot of flak for it, but even 14 years later, the guy has people waking up with the same issues and problems and jumping to online forums to bash in in some sort of weird obsessive way.


He continued to work until he became at worst the 2nd best player all time, while the haters' problems continued to pile up.


Was he wrong in anything that he said?

[1987_Lakers]

He obviously had a point, but I feel he made those comments out of insecurity. Defense mechanism.

[SouBeachTalents]

Was he wrong? No, but he was obviously full of shit claiming the haters rooting for him to fail didn't bother him, he wouldn't have given such a defensive answer had he really felt that way. Going from beloved to that hated so abruptly clearly bothered him that entire year, culminating with that Finals performance.

[iamgine]

It's like saying to black people, "you are descendant of slaves. Your ancestors were called N*gg*rs".

I mean, it's accurate but clearly classless.

[sdot_thadon]

It's like saying to black people, "you are descendant of slaves. Your ancestors were called N*gg*rs".

I mean, it's accurate but clearly classless.

Wtf

[warriorfan]

Lebron was projecting how he was gonna wake up the next day and feel like a loser after promising 7+ titles and saying “It’s gonna be easy” only to get outscored by Jason Terry in the NBA Finals and lose

[sdot_thadon]

He was telling the truth but it was a salty reply. Look at how many of these delusional people hate him but put that much energy into his brand. I took it as a "i might have embarrassed myslef....but im still rich and you're still poor obsessing over me." I didn't like it when it happened, still don't like it now.

[sdot_thadon]

Lebron was projecting how he was gonna wake up the next day and feel like a loser after promising 7+ titles and saying “It’s gonna be easy” only to get outscored by Jason Terry in the NBA Finals and lose

Youre exactly the kind of person he directed it at. :oldlol:

[warriorfan]

He was telling the truth but it was a salty reply. Look at how many of these delusional people hate him but put that much energy into his brand. I took it as a "i might have embarrassed myslef....but im still rich and you're still poor obsessing over me." I didn't like it when it happened, still don't like it now.

No he was projecting. He’s legit about to start crying lol.

Then makes the false equivalency that anyone who holds him accountable is just a loser in real life or something

He was behaving like a straight up child. lol

[highwhey]

Youre exactly the kind of person he directed it at. :oldlol:

:roll:

[Tavr]

Lebron was projecting how he was gonna wake up the next day and feel like a loser after promising 7+ titles and saying “It’s gonna be easy” only to get outscored by Jason Terry in the NBA Finals and lose

Its really not a bad response from him...I actually liked it. But there were reports he was depressed all off season lol. To a point LeBron isolated himself in his room for 2 weeks, doing pretty much nothing. It was 100% projection just like you said.

For LeBron's sake, I'm actually glad he won in Miami. Imagine going ringless with all the insurmountable hype. :lol

[Phoenix]

It's like saying to black people, "you are descendant of slaves. Your ancestors were called N*gg*rs".

I mean, it's accurate but clearly classless.

Yep, perfectly analogous to what Lebron said.

[Mask the Embiid]

The "im better than you speech"




https://i.postimg.cc/dVD6dsZG/b1wpc.jpg




is one of the greatest speeches of all time. I got it ranked high all time. Above the Obama's change speech but below Lincoln's Gettysburg address.. its of that ilk. Its the greatest post game speech of all time and thats why we still talk about it today 14 years later.


If it dont apply let it fly. but everyone of his haters knew it did apply and thats why it stung them like one of those japanese murder hornets to their core

[sdot_thadon]

No he was projecting. He’s legit about to start crying lol.

Then makes the false equivalency that anyone who holds him accountable is just a loser in real life or something

He was behaving like a straight up child. lol

Wtf was he projecting? He does indeed live a great life compared to the average sports fan/Lebron hater. Weirdos here been legit living and dying with his every success and failure for decades now. People been hating on this dude since before he had a driver's license lol. He lost in 2011 and here almost 15 years later you're still doing the same thing and hes been doing exactly what he said he would lolol. Where's the lie?

[Hey Yo]

He's basically implying that get your jabs in now because when I do get the that title and FMVP, I'm forever changed and seen as an NBA champion while you bozos still stay the same.

[warriorfan]

Wtf was he projecting? He does indeed live a great life compared to the average sports fan/Lebron hater. Weirdos here been legit living and dying with his every success and failure for decades now. People been hating on this dude since before he had a driver's license lol. He lost in 2011 and here almost 15 years later you're still doing the same thing and hes been doing exactly what he said he would lolol. Where's the lie?

You are pathetic and have a very low iq.

[Real Men Wear Green]

His attitude is a product of growing up in the public eye with social media growing up right alongside him. Before James' generation a superstar really only dealt with haters at road games. These days they get/give 24/7 access to insults from random strangers. We see posters lose their minds when they get insulted by one or two other posters on this forum. James doesn't read all of it (it would be impossible) but he's probably insulted one million times per day. Throw that on to of the frustration a player goes through after losing in the Finals and it's not shocking that he's had a moment like this one. I bet a lot of players and other celebrities privately agreed with him even though they wouldn't say it in public.

[sdot_thadon]

hey man, i got nothing

We know. You never do clown.

[j3lademaster]

Lebron is absolutely right and it’s not always fair to have such high expectations of a person just because they’re good at putting an orange ball through a metal cylinder. That being said, it’s quite obvious the hate got to him because he’s usually very image conscious.

[tpols]

It kind of showed his character. Instead of being a man and owning up to how he played... he took pot shots at NBA fans.

Same fans who made him basically a billionaire and allowed him to live his cushy life instead of being on the streets in Ohio.

[tpols]

Lebron is absolutely right and it’s not always fair to have such high expectations of a person just because they’re good at putting an orange ball through a metal cylinder. That being said, it’s quite obvious the hate got to him because he’s usually very image conscious.

He wasnt absolutely right to insult NBA fans like that instead of taking accountability for his awful play. He deflected like a coward.

[Gudo]

Lenarcissist loves the attention when it's all positive but can't handle the heat when he failed massively. Like Kobe said before, you got to be able to take the good and the bad. This was a tantrum move by lebron.

[Tavr]

He wasnt absolutely right to insult NBA fans like that instead of taking accountability for his awful play. He deflected like a coward.

Like I said in a post earlier, the comment LeBron made was totally cool by me. Thought it was a good response considering the vile shit trolls say online. But...after hearing about LeBron sulking that entire off-season and crying over being a "villain", it really cheapened his retort. Looking back now it just comes off insecure :lol

[sdot_thadon]

He wasnt absolutely right to insult NBA fans like that instead of taking accountability for his awful play. He deflected like a coward.

He admitted in that same post-game interview he didn't play as good as he should have. He credited his opponent as well. We only remember that quote lol. Does anyone here even remember the question he was asked to provoke that response? I couldn't remember myself.


"Does it bother you that so many people are happy to see you fail?"

Honestly dont think I've ever seen another star asked a question like that. How would you answer it? Id have been like **** em, straight into the camera.:oldlol:

[Gudo]

He admitted in that same post-game interview he didn't play as good as he should have. He credited his opponent as well. We only remember that quote lol. Does anyone here even remember the question he was asked to provoke that response? I couldn't remember myself.



Honestly dont think I've ever seen another star asked a question like that. How would you answer it? Id have been like **** em, straight into the camera.:oldlol:

Aww, everyone is ganging up on bronbron :( That question was so unique, it was the hardest path a kid from Akron can take.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yl3vjXQiKAA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cx-FnjCoA

[sdot_thadon]

Aww, everyone is ganging up on bronbron :( That question was so unique, it was the hardest path a kid from Akron can take.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yl3vjXQiKAA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cx-FnjCoA

The allstar game? :oldlol: and Philly will boo their own mom. And its not even really the same scenario nor question at all. Nice try though.

[tpols]

Aww, everyone is ganging up on bronbron :( That question was so unique, it was the hardest path a kid from Akron can take.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yl3vjXQiKAA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cx-FnjCoA

Wow.

Kobe took the high road even as a youngin.

[marLeY baLL]

justin snitch or marley drug$

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/505091929_10224052033923657_4359373283585916289_n. jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=cf85f3&_nc_ohc=ESLRJzYrrlwQ7kNvwH_SsZM&_nc_oc=AdkmuUN1r-tB0cun7F8PSCd5XcBCvnLljjecX6busk-NMU5mUWrSM08-15ew1sJZmd4cMkVk9riRVPTJuxI1RpuJ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=5imZC3H3FUmx-YqrBk64Ew&oh=00_AfWWAV5FkT3Bfs8cP6Vc3qxVVOplqwWXmV3tKilIeC4v _Q&oe=68AEAAD3

[Gudo]

The allstar game? :oldlol: and Philly will boo their own mom. And its not even really the same scenario nor question at all. Nice try though.

Anyone that claims "not 7 and not 8" but goes on to have a diarrhea and lose in the finals will naturally be held accountable. Lebron's feelings just couldn't handle it without throwing a tantrum. :oldlol:

[Overdrive]

While the content of his speech had some truth WF is right here. He was projecting onto fans, because he was mad about himself being incapable of winning while he thought "it's gonna be easy".


No he was projecting. He’s legit about to start crying lol.

Then makes the false equivalency that anyone who holds him accountable is just a loser in real life or something

He was behaving like a straight up child. lol

2007 was ok. Everyone is allowed to lose while still being a kid, but when Shaq lost in '95 he said after the finals if he comes back to them he promisses he will not lose and he played like it in the '00 Finals.

Lebron in '11 didn't. The losing in '07 didn't initiate a maturation process and it showed in that stupid Miami-not one, not two-presentation. He was still a child during that finals. He needed that loss to mature and it showed in G6 2012 ECF. That's where it clicked for him.

[warriorfan]

While the content of his speech had some truth WF is right here. He was projecting onto fans, because he was mad about himself being incapable of winning while he thought "it's gonna be easy".



2007 was ok. Everyone is allowed to lose while still being a kid, but when Shaq lost in '95 he said after the finals if he comes back to them he promisses he will not lose and he played like it in the '00 Finals.

Lebron in '11 didn't. The losing in '07 didn't initiate a maturation process and it showed in that stupid Miami-not one, not two-presentation. He was still a child during that finals. He needed that loss to mature and it showed in G6 2012 ECF. That's where it clicked for him.

Gonna bring up that Lebron was “allowed to lose” being 22 and first finals appearance in 07

Yet when OG’s Wade and Bron beat up in 22 and 23 year old Kd and westbrook….the criteria changes and it’s a huge W for lebron…..

So why does bron get a pass on his first finals visit at 22 yet when he finally goes over the top in 2012 vs 22 and 23 year olds it gets celebrated?


Idk bout you guys but that logic doesn’t check out with me.

[FilmyCogTurner]

AKA you're going to wake up tomorrow still a broke loser and I will not. Well, the loser part is debatable...

[sdot_thadon]

Anyone that claims "not 7 and not 8" but goes on to have a diarrhea and lose in the finals will naturally be held accountable. Lebron's feelings just couldn't handle it without throwing a tantrum. :oldlol:

I didn't like his comment then and dont now. I never liked the im better than you route for the privileged. But I was addressing the notion that he somehow wasn't held accountable wtf.? He took accountability in that very same interview before and after he was asked that weird question. "Does it bother you that everybody is happy you failed?" It blew my mind way back when I learned that fans think being a fan entitles them to immunity for their opinions. The people his comment still sticks with to this day are the ones he made it for. Yall caught a stray lol.

[ArbitraryWater]

In retrospect, one of the greatest speeches of all time.


Couldnt be more on point.

[Lebron23]

I think Lebron just called his haters a bunch of losers.

[Overdrive]

Gonna bring up that Lebron was “allowed to lose” being 22 and first finals appearance in 07

Yet when OG’s Wade and Bron beat up in 22 and 23 year old Kd and westbrook….the criteria changes and it’s a huge W for lebron…..

So why does bron get a pass on his first finals visit at 22 yet when he finally goes over the top in 2012 vs 22 and 23 year olds it gets celebrated?


Idk bout you guys but that logic doesn’t check out with me.

Making up imaginary discussions with yourself again? Ofc the Thunder were just as allowed to lose without its coretrio getting penalized for it. Everyone is allowed to. It's just at some point to become an absolute ATG you have to win and Lebron did. Not as convincing as he should have but still.

Also neither 2012 nor 2013 was some all time greatest finals performance by Lebron. Never claimed that either.

[StrongLurk]

Lebron's comments are what caused 3ball to go deranged mode and post over a million posts hating on Lebron since then. It's been 14 years...notice how 3ball stayed out of this thread :lol

[Hey Yo]

Gonna bring up that Lebron was “allowed to lose” being 22 and first finals appearance in 07

Yet when OG’s Wade and Bron beat up in 22 and 23 year old Kd and westbrook….the criteria changes and it’s a huge W for lebron…..

So why does bron get a pass on his first finals visit at 22 yet when he finally goes over the top in 2012 vs 22 and 23 year olds it gets celebrated?


Idk bout you guys but that logic doesn’t check out with me.

2012 OKC was the favorites after they steamrolled through the Western Playoffs with their reigning 3x scoring champ KD, All NBA Russ, 6MOTY Harden and runner-up DPOY Ibaka.

2007 Cavs were heavy underdogs and had LeBron.

Just a subtle difference between the 2 teams.

[Baller234]

As someone who was rooting for Bron to fail at that time, I wasn't bothered by this when it occurred in real time. He gave an honest answer.

A lot of people tried to spin it as him bragging about being a rich superstar and talking down to the average working man, but I didn't take it that way at all. I think he was just trying to say that sports isn't all that serious at the end of the day and people just have to go on with their lives.

I mean yea he could have taken the super high road and said something like "if people wanna root against me then whatever that's their prerogative..." but I'm not bothered by what he said at all. And I say this as someone who isn't a fan of Bron.