I think people hate LeBron more for the way he left Cleveland, not just that he left. His big TV show special "The Decision" to announce that he was abandoning the city that worshiped him. The pompous statement, "I've decided to take my talents to South Beach" has been a punchline for months. Had LeBron simply insisted on leaving, and forced Cleveland to trade him, a la Melo to NYK, it wouldn't have been as bad. Instead, he left Cleveland fans twisting in the wind, guessing for weeks after an inexplicable collapse in the playoffs (during which LeBron's effort was questionable), then announced he was going to go play second fiddle to Wade and make the Cavs instantly go from contender to worst team in the NBA.