Last night, perhaps to the chagrin of many, the Miami Heat won the 2011-12 NBA Championship.

There exists for many a desire to see the best fail. As a young Bulletin, I rooted against Michael Jordan. Today, as an old, bitter, tired Bulletin, I regret that choice. Despite my allegiances to a certain team in green and white, I should have rooted for MJ. I should have truly appreciated his dominance.

In 2008-09, the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship with a roster sewn together from excellent pieces of fabric that had yet to win a Championship. They were celebrated. By me. By you. By everyone (except Lakers fans).

In the summer of 2010, LeBron James decided to leave Cleveland, Ohio to join forces with a friend and fellow elite basketball player, in the hopes of winning an NBA Title. The world, myself included, reacted poorly to this.

Much of that blame fell on LeBron and ESPN for turning his free agent decision into “The Decision.” But some of that blame also belongs on us.  We were cruel to LeBron. We made LeBron James out to be evil. LeBron James, who by all accounts is a great, selfless teammate. All of a sudden, we were on Team Kobe. “Kobe is the best player in the NBA.” “Kobe is a winner.” “LeBron will never be Kobe. Etc. Etc.”

(It’s worth noting, Kobe Bryant made a trip to Colorado in 2003. Read about that in case you’ve forgotten.)

We were overcome with joy last year when the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. We chastised LeBron for not winning the title on his own. What, was he not a good enough basketball player to carry a terrible team (and the Miami Heat were TERRIBLE, outside of the Big 2 ½)? In the year after “The Decision” LeBron reacted poorly to our poor reaction. He played up the villain role. It was a role not suited for a man with a great smile, a receding hairline, a sense of humor, and unparalleled skills on the basketball court.

He entered the 2011-12 season wanting to shed the villain tag. He didn’t pout. He didn’t talk about “me.” He played, perhaps, the best basketball of his career. And unlike what we had seen previously, he saved the best for last.

LeBron James’ 2012 NBA Finals performance was remarkable, capped off by a triple-double last night. The numbers aren’t important. What we saw was a player, after 9 seasons, reaching his full potential. For some, that would be too little, too late. Or just not enough. But consider the potential of 18 year old LeBron. It was near limitless. He was going to be a little Michael Jordan (scoring), some Scottie Pippen (defense…more so the ability to guard any position on the floor), Magic Johnson (passing), and (the most apt comparison) Oscar Robertson (overall impact in all areas).

The LeBron of the 2012 NBA Finals was that historic amalgamation of greatness. He scored like MJ, defended like Scottie, passed like Magic, and impacted every area of the game like the Big O.

You won’t find a bigger Kevin Durant fan outside of Oklahoma than the Bulletin. I was moved by how emotional he was at the conclusion of last night’s game. But I know that Durant will win NBA titles. He’s 23 with a lot of room to improve, remarkable as that may seem.

LeBron James has reached his pinnacle. He’s young enough that he could keep playing at this level for a handful of years before he returns to earth. Earth, of course, for him, being other-worldly for most.

Now is the time to celebrate LeBron James. Now is the time to put aside our desire to see the best fail. It’s not a particularly noble cause. LeBron made himself better, on the court and off. Perhaps it’s time that we do the same.