In 2026, it is hard to imagine a time when LeBron James was not a fan favorite. As he navigates his 23rd NBA season, James is celebrated in every arena he visits, receiving standing ovations from fanbases that once hoped for his downfall. However, the four-time champion has not forgotten the volatility of public opinion.
In a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast, James opened up about the most challenging period of his career—his 2010 move to the Miami Heat—and revealed the surprising inspirations that helped him navigate becoming the most hated man in the NBA.
James famously went from being the “Chosen One” and the darling of Cleveland to a bad guy overnight following “The Decision.” The backlash was harsh, with jerseys burned and him booed in arenas across the country.
To survive this sudden shift from hero to villain, James looked outside of basketball to the world of professional wrestling. He drew a direct parallel between his trajectory and that of Hulk Hogan, whose shock turn to the NWO faction in the 1990s changed wrestling forever.
LeBron James on embracing the Villain role in his career when he changed teams to Miami, compares It to Hulk Hogan joining N.W.O 👀
“I grew up watching Hulk Hogan. At one point Hulk Hogan was like Americas like everyone loved him. What it means to be an American. Then one day,… pic.twitter.com/eU477FQhIm
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) February 3, 2026
“At one point, everyone loved [Hulk Hogan],” James explained on the podcast. “Then one day, he went to nWo, and people couldn’t understand how he tagged up with the enemy. Everybody just booed him.” James realized that Hogan’s pivot didn’t destroy his career. Instead, it revitalized it. For James, the Heat era was his nWo moment—a necessary evil that ultimately led to two championships in South Beach.
While he has always identified with Batman’s heroism, he found a necessary utility in the psychology of the Dark Knight’s arch-nemesis. “As much as Batman is my favorite superhero, I also love the Joker’s role,” James said. “We want to go out and have fun, get our guys involved, smile, be happy because that brings us joy. But we can tap into the Joker role if y’all make us now.”
James returned to Cleveland in 2014, turning face much like Hogan eventually did, and delivered on his promise to bring a championship to the city with the historic 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors in 2016.