Mario Chalmers Shares How LeBron James Embraced "Villain" Role With Miami Heat

Former Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers witnessed first-hand superstar LeBron James accept the villain role

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is one of the most criticized players in NBA history, but perhaps none more often than during his tenure with the Miami Heat.

James left the Cleveland Cavaliers to team-up with All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami in hopes of finding postseason success. However, the decision brought a massive amount of slander to him, as former Heat guard Mario Chalmers shared on Playmaker HQ's 'The Big Podcast with Shaq'.

“I always take it back to that first game in Cleveland. LeBron's first game. I've never seen fans that mad at a person from people trying to throw batteries on the court. We had somebody try to grab an officer's gun. It was just crazy stuff like that," Chalmers said. "And it was just like, you guys are really that mad that he left Cleveland to come to Miami. I'm confused. How can you be that mad?"

James won two NBA championships with the Heat while leading them to four consecutive Finals appearances. The era was viewed as a success and a minor failure due to expectations of winning more than a pair of rings.

"At one point, he kind of embraced being the villain," Chalmers shared of James' view of the role. "Like, 'Okay, y'all don't like me for making a decision that's going to help my career, help me be a better basketball player, so is it real personal or is it y'all just don't like what I did?' So for him, it was kind of like he embraced it, like, 'Yeah, I'll be the villain for right now.'"

Shaquille O'Neal Once Chased Dorell Wright Naked In Miami Heat's Locker Room

Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.

He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla.

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook HERE

Subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE