Why is James always questioned? What made him lose his qualifications? Twenty years of doubt

In front of a controversial replay screen, the 39-year-old man yelled at the referee, a microcosm of his career, always on the road to self-provement of innocence. That decision in 2010 was like a bullet that penetrated the traditional beliefs of the basketball world. When LeBron James announced on live TV that he would bring his talent to Miami, he not only betrayed Cleveland, but also subverted the growth script that NBA superstars should have, and finally reached the top after suffering. From that day on, he became a "traitor specimen" in the basketball world, questioning follows like a shadow, even though he knelt down and cried bitterly for winning the championship in his hometown, even if he was wearing a purple gold robe to revive the Lakers.

Original Sin: "Utilitarianism" that subverts the divine nature of basketball, the root of James' controversy begins with his complete betrayal of the traditional heroic narrative. Jordan used six championships to create an immortal statue in Chicago, and Kobe interpreted loneliness and tenacity with the "Mamba spirit". James' "Decision One" in 2010 tore apart the fans' romantic fantasy of loyalty - he took the initiative to join forces with Wade and Bosh to deconstruct the martyrical aesthetics of competitive sports with business logic. This soberness of "controlling fate" has led to the fiercest artillery fire. Cavaliers boss Gilbert publicly denounced "cowardly betrayal", fans burned their jerseys, and celebrities shook their heads and sighed: "No superstar in history will play a series against the Celtics."

When Nowitzki defeated the Heat's three Heats alone, James' 8 points in a single game became a laughing stock, which seemed to confirm the irony of "no one can win even if they join in." What's even more fatal is that he played superstar privileges into a capital game. From Miami’s salary cut to a 1+1 contract to returning to the Cavaliers, every signing of James has hidden strategic deterrence, and the management must continue to strengthen, otherwise I will leave at any time. This "player empowerment" completely reverses the traditional power structure of labor-management relations.

Bull's eye: The "divine flaw" magnified by a microscope

James' greatness became a catalyst for questioning. When he was crowned the historical scoring champion in 2023, the criticism pointed to him as "scoring points", such as playing in garbage time to ensure data records. Behind this accusation is a deep-rooted double standard. Kobe scored 81 points is a legend, but James broke the record but became utilitarian. The key ball choice has become an eternal handle. "The Block" in the 2016 finals tiebreak was deified, but more people remember the scene of him "passing the blame" to the bottom corner shooter. American commentator Stephen A. Smith once ridiculed: "James is in the softest era in the NBA!" But when Butler was unable to support himself in the 2020 Finals, public opinion praised him for "shotting all his last bullet" - the same alone fight, James only scored 51 points in a single game in the 2018 Finals but only received the ridicule of "pseudo-superstars", and even his leadership was deconstructed. In 2019, the Lakers' locker room was undercurrent, and famous reporters revealed that Rondo "successfully led the entire team" and pointed directly at the crack in James' leader's halo.

And when he roared the referee for crossing the line, the focus of controversy quickly shifted from justice to "the giant baby privilege of superstars"

Undercurrent: the "crisis of trust"

When James transformed from a player to the head of the business empire, his performance on the court was also questioned. He signed a lifelong contract with Nike, produced "Slam Dunk 2" and established SpringHill Entertainment, and basketball seemed to have become a springboard for the business landscape. This image of "businessman" is in a dazzling contrast with Jordan's "pure winner" character. Fans sneer: "He is more concerned about box office or championship?" The operation of his son Brownie has even ignited the powder barrel of public opinion. When the Lakers used the second round to choose Brownie who had a sudden cardiac in the center, they were full of doubts: "This is family business, not basketball!" James wrapped the warm story of "father and son on the same stage" into a shrewd capital narrative, making the purists feel like they were stuck in their throats.

21 years of career, James has always been breaking the cognitive fence of the basketball world. Jordan represents the perfect myth, Kobe transformed into a spiritual totem, while James teared apart the fairy tale and showed the world the essence of modern sports is the entanglement between business and competition, and the game between individuals and systems. When fans argued whether he should cut the Lakers a 15 million salary cut, James' rejection had already given the answer, and questioners were still trying the new king with the standards of the old gods, and the territory of the new king had long surpassed the basketball court itself.