LeBron James was underpaid last season, Forbes magazine says

LeBron James was underpaid by about $30 million last season.

APLeBron James

Shame on you, Cleveland Cavaliers' fans. Shame on you for booing LeBron James when he was here with the Miami Heat last week, writes Tom Van Riper of Forbes magazine.

Instead of jeering James, writes Van Riper, fans should have given him a standing ovation. Van Riper calls Cleveland fans ungrateful.

Seriously.

Clevelanders ought to be thanking him for the great ride. Gilbert should be thanking him too -- the salary he doled out to James was a pittance compared to the victories and money that rolled in during his Cleveland reign.

Not only should fans have given LeBron thank you cards, but LeBron, who earned $15.8 million last season, was underpaid.

At almost 30 points and nine assists per game, 50.5% shooting and 39 minutes a night on the floor, James produced more wins for his club (27.2) than any player in the league. All while earning less than Zach Randolph and Pau Gasol, and about the same as slightly lesser stars Dwight Howard and James' new Miami running mate, Dwayne Wade. James edges out Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Boston's Rajon Rondo as the player who delivered the most for the money last season.

So Van Riper comes up with this formula which weighs heavily on wins, and he figures James should have earned something in the neighborhood of $46 million per season.