LeBron James Admits Dark Place After Heat Move

LeBron James said the media narratives around his move from Cleveland to Miami in 2010 put him in a "dark place," telling Bob Does Sports that he "took the villain role" and that the backlash helped explain his Finals dip from 26.7 to 17.8 points per game in 2011. He added the journey "made me who I am," a line that links that painful season to the back-to-back titles he later won with the Heat and his eventual return to Cleveland. Merlin sees a familiar arc of trial and rebirth. LeBron’s call to "Shed that black hat" reads like a turning point that sharpened his competitive core. A potential third Cleveland chapter would be poetic, but time and role will decide how much of the old hero remains on the court.