Report: LeBron James Receives Most Online Abuse Of Any Athlete

LeBron James is one of the most famous people on the planet, transcending sports and permeating into cultures across the globe. However, what comes with otherworldly acclaim is equally profound detestation. According to a study by the betting site Pickswise, James receives the most online abuse of any athlete in the world.

The study put forth by Pickswise analyzes every abusive tweet sent to an athlete participating in the sports of football, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf and ice hockey over the past year. The top 20 athletes were displayed and the four-time MVP topped the list with a marginal lead, accumulating 122, 568 abusive messages; soccer star Marcus Rashford was second with 32, 328.

James is no stranger to enduring vitriol from the masses. He has been the face of the NBA for over a decade and regularly voices his opinion on political and social issues — much to the chagrin of others. 

There were a total of six NBA players on the list. Kevin Durant ranked fourth, Damian Lillard in the sixth spot, Stephen Curry came in at ninth, James Harden was 15th and his teammate Kyrie Irving slotted in at 17th.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports