If observing Twitter/NBA fandom in general has taught me anything, it’s that some famous people are just going to be irrationally hated. That’s always been the case and it’s probably never going to change.

Sometimes celebrities and star athletes are criticized because they do reprehensible things, either in their profession or in their own personal lives. Sometimes they inspire haters because every aspect of their lives is so heavily scrutinized. Sometimes it’s just flat-out jealousy, dislike or homerism for no good reason.

But whatever the case, almost every NBA superstar has been called “overrated” or a “choker” at some point in their careers. For some reason, the vast majority of the world seems hellbent on making James Harden the poster boy for irrationally hated superstars right now, and it’s really high time this nonsense came to an end.

It won’t, but it’s worth exploring why it’s time for the world to appreciate the Beard as more than just an NBA villain. Now that the Houston Rockets‘ 2014-15 season is over, the Harden haters have been soaking in the self-satisfied sludge of his “choke job,” smugly stamping it as the final verification that Stephen Curry was the correct choice for MVP.

I’m not here to argue that Harden should’ve won MVP, nor am I here to make light of his record-setting (in the worst way) Game 5. But after the phenomenal season that James Harden just had, it’s time somebody — other than Rockets fans — mourned the postseason departure of one of the NBA’s best players.