10 reasons LeBron James is hated: a definitive guide

10) Hides behind superteams in the East

The Eastern Conference Finals seem to permanently feature LeBron James

The Western Conference has been a bloody gauntlet over the last decade. Making it to the Conference Finals is seen as a major accomplishment for a team. Contrast that with the East, where the Conference Finalists consist of whichever team LeBron is on at the time and some other team.

While the Western Conference team arrives to the NBA Finals hobbled and fatigued, LeBron’s team usually has a much easier ride. Kobe is seen as a battle-tested veteran while LeBron is seen as someone who just plays for the one 7 game series.

Having said that, given the opportunity, anyone would choose the easier conference to play in seeing as how small things can derail championship hopes. The West has some perennial powerhouses in the Spurs, Warriors, Thunder, Clippers and the Rockets. That doesn't make the 48-minute grind of the Eastern Conference any less bloody.

In sports, loathing the opponent is something of a national pastime. A lot of the reasons that LeBron James is hated makes for good drama and entertainment. These reasons, some of them valid in their own right, can inspire derision and scorn.

Outright hatred is something one ought to reserve for tyrants and miscreants who seek to do us harm. All LeBron seeks to do is win games and have a good time while doing it. Feel free to ridicule the guy, hating seems unwarranted though.