Landon Buford
After the 2010 season, LeBron James decided to take his talents to South Beach after losing to the Boston Celtics in five games. Upon making the decision, James became the NBA’s number one villain.
When you take on the villain role, that comes with hatred and slander, something James, his family, and fans have dealt with for over a decade. For example, for years, NBA fans and members of the media said the only reason they won consistently in the Eastern Conference was weaker than the competition out West. According to James, he has been paying attention and decided to come out West.
“As far as the MVP race, I think I showed what I’m capable of doing, not only individually but from a team perspective, us being No. 1 in the West,” James said, according to The Washington Post’s Ben Golliver. “There was a lot of conversation about, ‘LeBron can do those things in the East, but if he ever came to the West, what can he do?’ I heard all of that.”
Well, he proved those doubters wrong, that’s for sure. He went on. “To have our team at the top of the Western Conference and playing the way that we were playing at that time, and the way that I was playing, that’s definitely a good feeling.”
On Friday, Allyson Carpenter had the opportunity to interview Gloria James on the Clubhouse App in the Los Angeles Lakers Fan Club. During the question and answered period, she asked to give her opinion on her son’s slander.
” When I hear the disrespect. When he [is talked about] in negative ways. It bothers me as his mom and it should. Fortunately, since it has been 18 years now. It took me a long time to not act on my thoughts,” said James.
“But there are more people that love LeBron than hate him. We are the majority and they are the minority.”
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers look to take a 3-1 lead against the Phoenix Suns. As they look to repeat as NBA Champions. Gloria James finished the interview by thanking the audience for supporting her son, and told them to enjoy the rest of the playoff season.
The Lakers and Suns play at 3:30 pm EST on ABC.
