After his third consecutive no show in the fourth quarter of the NBA Finals, LeBron James is fast becoming more like an overhyped media creation than a legitimate go to superstar. Once considered Michael Jordan's heir apparent, James is now dwarfed by Dwyane Wade who has responded to his teammate's lack of production with dominant performances night in and night out.

 

But don't feel sorry for King James. As arrogant as he is delusional, LeBron has proven time and time again that he thinks he's much better than he actually is. Why else would he have tattoos that say "Chosen 1" across his back and "Gifted Child" on his chest? According to Washington Post columnist Mike Wise, James's arrogance doesn't just run skin deep.

 

In a recent column, Wise said a player recently told him that LeBron had contacted him about possibly joining forces in the offseason.

 

The text began: "Yo, this is King James."

 

According to Wise, the player was offended by LeBron's egotistical introduction.

 

"I was like, 'Give me a break. You're going to call yourself that?' "the player said, on condition that his name not be used. "Do you think Michael Jordan texts people by starting with, 'Yo, this is His Airness.' Come on, get over yourself."

 

Unfortunately for the James, his legacy is fast becoming that of an underachieving blow hard without the necessary drive to close opponents out. As LeBron's inability to respond to the occasion becomes more pronounced, former players are taking notice.

 

In an interview on Jim Rome's nationally syndicated radio show, Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley said James lacks the killer instinct that made famous champions, such as Michael Jordan, so great.

 

"We told him he was Michael Jordan; he's not Michael Jordan," Barkley said. "LeBron would rather pass the ball than score. That's just who he is. We're trying to make him a cold blooded killer; he's never going to be a cold blooded killer."

 

According to Barkley, the entire Heat team is an arrogant bunch; a fact he says was exposed by a recent video showing Wade and James making fun of Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki for his illness that affected him in game four.

 

"You see the new tape that just came out where they're mocking Dirk?" Barkley asked. "I mean, they're mocking Dirk for being sick before one of the games. And, I'm sitting here thinking, these guys are crazy. They're walking down the hall making fun of Dirk, fake coughing. You've got to say to yourself, 'these guys just don't get it' . . .  why people don't like them." 

 

Barkley went on to say that he and other former players aren't able to root for Miami, because the team isn't worthy of respect.

 

"All these guys, we were all great, great players and Hall-of-Famers; and these guys (the Heat) get together one day and say they're going to win seven championships? Hey dude, you don't think we were busting our humps out there trying to win one? And, you guys are going to get together one day and win six or seven? Come on, man. It ain't that easy. Ask Dan Marino. Ask Jim Kelly. Ask Warren Moon.

 

"That's what this whole thing has always been about. People say that the older guys don't like them (the Heat). That's the reason we don't like them. We don't root against them, but we don't like them either." 

 

If James and the Heat want to put a stop to all the vitriol coming from former and current players, they'll have to defeat the Mavericks in the final two games of the NBA Finals. For Miami to have any chance, they'll need a superior effort from Wade, Bosh and a hoard of ineffective Miami role players, led most notably by the overpaid King James.

 

- Ryan Lawrence