Like him or hate him, it's hard to classify LeBron James as a villain. If he is one, he's only that to his haters and detractors, and for misguided reasons, mostly. Has LeBron been on the wrong side of a few decisions throughout his career? Yes, of course he has.
"The Decision" wasn't respected by many, and that was the first misstep LeBron had taken up until that point in his career. Then there was the push to trade away championship players like Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Russell Westbrook — a move that had LeBron's fingerprints all over.
So, yes, he's made some mistakes in judgment, but a villain? Nevertheless, “The King” himself actually classifies himself as a villain, or sorts, at least during his Miami Heat days from 2010 to 2014. On the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast, LeBron and guest host Tyrese Haliburton discussed the "villain" role in the NBA, and LeBron had a lot to say on how he carried that title and who his inspiration was.
LeBron James credits late Hulk Hogan's journey from hero to villain as blueprint for going from Cavaliers to Heat
Many viewed LeBron's decision to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami as a cheap basketball move, considering Wade had already won a championship and LeBron had failed in an NBA Finals series. There were other factors involved that changed LeBron's perception with fans and otherwise, and he was quickly labeled a villain of sorts.
This is something Haliburton has also experienced in the past two years since the Indiana Pacers have become a contender in the East, so it's only right that two "villains' discussed what it means to be a villain and how to take it on and run with it.
In LeBron's case, his Heat villainy had to be drawn from outside inspiration — Hulk Hogan, the legendary WWE wrestler who passed away in 2025. Hogan's career helped LeBron immensely in Miami navigate fame and the harsh outside critique and noise he experienced. In Cleveland, LeBron was the hero. In Miami, he became something else.
“I grew up watching Hulk Hogan. At one point, Hulk Hogan was like America, as everyone loved him. What it means to be an American," LeBron said. "Then one day, he went to N.W.O. and people couldn’t understand how he tagged up with the enemy. They were like, ‘What is going on?’ Everybody just booed him. He went from wearing red and yellow to black and white."
It was a similar path taken by each athlete, and like Hogan, who changed his colours, when LeBron changed his, everything changed for him. Of course, he would eventually return to the very same place and fanbase that burned his jersey one after the other and lift a Larry O'Brien trophy for all Cavaliers' fans to see.
When he went to Miami, if LeBron wasn't a polarizing figure in sports already, he sure was after "The Decision." Had LeBron never left Cleveland for Miami, who knows how things would have turned out? One thing is for certain: LeBron learned how to win during those four years, and he brought that back home to Cleveland.
That said, some things never change, and you could argue that many still view LeBron as a villain, and maybe to them he always will be. He doesn't seem to care anymore at this point. He's 41 years old and still better than 95% of the players he plays with or against every night. Let it be remembered that it was with the Heat that LeBron helped deliver back-to-back championships. In Miami, that should never be forgotten, love him or hate him.