LeBron James is the subject of much discussion these days. Nicknamed King James, he attracts the attention of a devoted legion of fans and awe-stricken media analysts — his loyal “subjects.“

The best basketball player on the planet right now, James is in the midst of another MVP-caliber season. Anointed “The Chosen One” as a junior in high school, LeBron displays breathtaking skill and athleticism, leading his team in points per game, rebounds and assists, all while playing every position on the court with ease.

Merely entering the “prime” of his career, LeBron has already won an NBA championship, an NBA Finals MVP award and three regular season NBA MVP awards. 

Need I say more?

Oh, right — I forgot to mention he has two Olympic gold medals. 

These days, The King is vying to defend his NBA title. He continues to work closely with his LeBron James Family Foundation, a charitable organization that partners with the likes of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He’s even doing the Harlem Shake these days — a clear sign of the joy he surely has right now as an athlete and as a person.

Though it seems as if LeBron has the world at his fingertips, there are plenty of people who still root against him. Bothered by the idea of the King’s success, rebels are trying to overthrow his greatness, screaming from the mountaintops that LeBron has a “tarnished legacy.” That he still isn’t “clutch.” That he took the “easy way out.” That he’ll never be as good as Michael Jordan.

Obviously anyone is entitled to his or her opinion; however, if you think his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to go to Miami and the associated betrayal of his fans are justified reasons as to why he will never rank among the greats, or is the reason why you enjoy seeing him fail, then surely you are narrow-minded.

Accolades and contractual decisions alone do not define a player’s character. No matter how many titles and awards LeBron wins or how many teams he plays for, his legacy should not be judged completely by what he did in the NBA. If you are to judge his character and contribution to society, you need to look deeper. His family foundation gives back to the community, supporting the Akron Public Schools and the Wheels for Education program, a program built on the fundamental value of every student getting an education. In fact, the degree to which he uses his influence as an international sports star has gained the admiration of NBA legend Magic Johnson, one of the most philanthropic figures in sports history. Yeah, he’s having fun this year and sharing that joy with both teammates and fans.

But, like I said, regardless of what LeBron does to positively impact the community, nay-sayers will continue to wish for his downfall. While I agree the decision to leave his hometown may have been a bad PR move on his part, what he has done for the Boys and Girls Clubs and other organizations near his hometown in Ohio cannot be ignored. I also cannot defend LeBron after his comments following the Heat’s loss to the Mavs in the NBA finals, shamefully mocking people who would have to “wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today.” However, the frustration that led to that comment is perhaps the most human, authentic reaction anyone could have had; perhaps in an era that we chastise professional athletes for being too polished and fake, we should actually celebrate James’ comments as a glimpse into the raw human emotion he must have felt at that time.

The bottom line is that LeBron James is a person — and he will make mistakes along the way, just like every one of us. Though all of his actions can be summed up and left for individual judgment, I would rather cheer on success than scrutinize every good and bad thing he continues to do. Maybe we’d all be better served using sports as a vehicle to celebrate accomplishment rather than an outlet for our own frustrations and, therefore, “hating” certain teams and players.

The more athletic performances we cheer on and celebrate, the more we celebrate the joy of human expression through sports. Hating teams in sports is rooted in misery wanting company, and that isn’t the company that I want to concern myself with. So for now, I’ll applaud as I watch the King make history.

Imran is a sophomore in DGS. He can be reached at [email protected].