2014 NBA playoffs: Miami Heat during the Big Three era

July 8, 2010

The Decision

It was well-intentioned, but with just the right amount of narcissism and clumsiness to make it the worst choice LeBron James has made in his professional career. A 75-minute special on ESPN, hosted by former ESPN employee Jim Gray, that made his free-agency decision an event, with a title and all.

Reportedly roughly $6 million was raised for charity thanks to the special -- about $2.5 million going to the Boys and Girls Club -- which was the reason James went that route. But spending over an hour to discuss a choice that can be announced in mere seconds seemed entirely unnecessary. And this sentence from James, "In this fall ... this is very tough ... in this fall I'm going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat," had so much wrong with it, it has been mocked time and time again. Not to mention the "this is very tough" part seemed so disingenuous.

Thanks in large part to how he announced his move to Miami, LeBron immediately became the NBA's biggest villain.

All in the name of charity.

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