When LeBron James joined the Miami Heat in 2010, the NBA community had mixed reactions. Some understood his decision, but some resented him for teaming up with other superstars in a quest to win a title. Bron linked up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, two other All-Stars from the 2003 Draft class.
A good chunk of the NBA community disliked what James did because it looked like a taking an easy route to the title. Former nine-time All-NBA guard Gary Payton had a level-headed take, explaining why there was vitriol for LeBron.
“Everybody was beating him (Jordan) up, and then all of a sudden, Scottie Pippen. Then Phil Jackson puts the pieces together. He goes and gets (B.J.) Armstrong, he gets Luc Longley, he gets Scott Williams, he gets Kukoc. And they win six championships,” Payton said to Rolling Stone. “But in our era, I don’t think Michael Jordan would have been saying, “Let me call Magic, let me call Larry Bird.” I wouldn’t want to play with Hakeem. I wanted to beat them. That was just our mentality.”
The NBA community thought Bron was taking the easy road
After being swept in the 2007 NBA Finals and falling short in subsequent seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Bron as their cornerstone, had hit a wall and were stuck without a clear path forward.
With the Boston Celtics dominating the Eastern Conference, James realized he needed support to reach the top. Miami became the ideal destination, offering the chance to team up with his fellow 2003 Draft classmates. However, some saw this decision as a weak move, as it seemed like they were taking an easier path to a championship.
As an elite athlete, he was expected to take the hardest path possible to win a title. Many would consider that a "well-deserved" championship, which was the evident narrative when Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks won a title in 2011 against the Heat.
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Payton thought it was a weak move for players in their prime
It could look hypocritical for Payton to talk about joining other star players in a quest to win championships. He argues that joining up with Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant on the 2003/04 Los Angeles Lakers was not the same as what James did because the four-time MVP was in his prime in 2010.
Gary explained that he and Karl were in their late 30s at the time, primarily serving as role players. While his point is understandable, some might see a bit of hypocrisy. From a competitor’s perspective, however, many would relate to Payton's stance.
Circling back, LeBron silenced many of his critics when he returned to The Land in 2014 and fulfilled his promise by winning a championship in 2016.
Related: Gary Payton says Seattle was the original Lob City: "I was doing that in the early 90s before even that boy was even in diapers"
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