Former NBA MVP Explains Why He ‘Hated' Playing Against LeBron James
Former NBA MVP Explains Why He 'Hated' Playing Against LeBron James originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is one of the greatest players in NBA history. He's a four-time MVP, a four-time champion and a four-time Finals MVP with career averages of 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.
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James became the leading scorer in NBA history in 2023, passing Hall of Famer and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The King, who entered the NBA in 2003, is the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in points and assists.
Many superstars have failed to reach the NBA Finals and win it all because of James, who went to eight straight NBA Finals from 2010-11 to 2017-18.
James won back-to-back rings and Finals MVPs with the Heat in 2012 and 2013. He won his third ring and third Finals MVP in 2016 with the Cavaliers and captured his fourth title and fourth Finals MVP in 2020 with the Lakers.
Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose "hated" playing against LeBron James. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
One player who was projected to dominate the NBA for a while before getting hurt was Derrick Rose, who became the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011 with his hometown Chicago Bulls.
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Rose, who retired from the NBA in 2024, recently revealed that he 'hated' playing against James.
'Bron was the only one that thought like a point guard that wasn't a point guard,' Rose said. 'Where he wouldn't score early or sometimes he would start scoring early. And he was smart enough to make the adjustment. I hated that.'
When Rose was with the Bulls, he went 0-3 against James in the playoffs.
Rose and the Bulls lost to James and the Cavaliers in the first round of the 2010 playoffs in five games and the second round of the 2015 playoffs in six games.
Rose and Chicago also lost to James and the Heat in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals in five games.
Related: NBA Trade Idea Gives Lakers' LeBron James, Luka Doncic New All-Star Teammate
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
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