NBA Special: LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant- Love/Hate scale (PT 1)
The NBA might have hated Kobe Bryant for a very long time since the Colorado incident that took place back in 2003, but the player grinded enough stones to get his fans back.
Ever since the unfortunate accusation happened, the 32-year-old was subjected to every negative emotion, from hatred to disgust to aggression. But since that time, the player has looked for each and every opportunity to get the love of his fans back.
He did not do this directly but through the sport itself. The player took the Los Angeles Lakers, his team to new heights of success with his commendable leadership. In this piece of writing we will look at a comparison between Kobe and LeBron James, and where they both lie in scale of reputation and love/hatred among fans.
It took Kobe a considerable amount of time to win the hearts of his fans back, on the other hand, the once loved by everyone ‘James’ turned his fan following around by his own carelessness and upsettingly ridiculous behaviour.
Bryant has without any doubt proven his potential as a basketball player and he is among one of the best players basketball world has ever had. Recalling one of the best things he did on a basketball was when the player scooped out 81 points in a 122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on 22 January, 2006. This was the second highest number of points ever scored in NBA’s history.
On the other hand, LeBron James pushed his fans back himself. He was one of those teenagers who pursued perfection since his starting years in the profession. Ever since he started his shiny career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he was one of the players who was not only loved but respected by his fans. Cleveland worshipped and admired him, but not anymore. He hurt the city that opened up its arms towards him and shocked them by turning his back on them to join Miami Heat.
It makes sense why they are so angry with him. It is supposed to happen when you have been playing for one team for seven years and all the hopes and dreams of that team are attached with you and suddenly you decide that you have to move on. Yes, that’s what the self-declared ‘King’ James did. He abandoned his home-town for Miami Heat in 2010.
His fans were not that angry on his decision than his making the decision public on National TV. At least they had the right to know it before anyone else knew it. But of course, they were not a priority to him. He let his diehard fans down and not only that but after being traded to Miami, the player celebrated with his new team, which only added fuel to fire. The same fans who chanted MVP, MVP in his presence now boo whenever he is present at the Quicken Loans Arena.
May be it was career and future that was on the mind of the player at that time but the fans call it selfishness and arrogance on part of James. Kobe Bryant struggled intensely after his 2003 case and both his image as a superstar and human being were tarnished. The companies that loved to have him as their endorser cut on him and his fans turned their backs on him as well.
Continued in Part 2
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