LeBron James: Hate the Team, Respect the Player

There is a consensus that will tell you most people are not fond of the Miami Heat's "Big 3" and them coming together back in 2010 in pursuit of dominating the basketball landscape for the next decade. Since James, Wade and Bosh joined forces in South Beach, they have been to the Finals all three years and have walked away with two titles, and while you can continue to hate the super team that is the Miami Heat, you can't take away what LeBron James did throughout the playoffs.

It was James who picked his team up at critical moments and did what was expected of him. Even with those big moments, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals and Finals, LeBron's performance is always graded on a scale that many other players in the league today aren't. A scale where a player like Jordan is the high point, those who dislike him will point to Michael Jordan's legacy and tell him he's not good enough.

James had a platform last night to address the doubt and scrutiny surrounding him all season long, and he rolled with it.

"Listen, I can't worry about what everybody says about me. I'm LeBron James, from Akron, Ohio, from the inner city. I'm not even supposed to be here. That's enough."

With the weight of the world off his shoulders for one glorious moment, James had to be the most relieved person in the arena last night.

"Every night I walk into the locker room, I see a No. 6 with James on the back, I'm blessed. So what everybody says about me off the court, don't matter. I ain't got no worries."

LeBron will continue to have his critics and the Miami Heat will be considered an evil empire to many, but there is one thing some can say about him after this postseason. LeBron James could make any team a champion at any moment. Most of the 29 other teams in the NBA would become automatic favorites to win the championship with No. 6 on the squad.

There were moments this season where it was LeBron playing like it was 2007 with the Cavaliers. A team that made it to the Finals before being swept by the Spurs, with James carrying them on his back. Six years later, he got another crack at beating San Antonio and did.

He may not be at Jordan's level just yet, but he is currently the best player of this generation and is on his way.