ESPN has caused tons of drama with its annual ranking of the top 100 NBA players. The comedy about the list though is that LeBron James isn’t at the top.
ESPN is a sports news company, but its latest edition of the top 100 NBA players paint them more like an improv joint or comedy club. To be specific, this list doesn’t have LeBron James at number one. Even more comedic and yuck worthy, King James isn’t even ranked as the second-best player, but a laughable number three.
While some will point to this as a way for ESPN to stir up the public, as page views, reach, and actions on page are seemingly the only metrics that matter today in media, some may actually make the mistake of taking this seriously. Oh, it is supposed to be a serious list, you say?
That can’t possibly be possible, not if those charged with compiling these rankings have watched the same NBA we’ve been watching. While his superman-esque status of being immune to injury was challenged by a groin injury that caused him to miss substantial time last season, must we not forget that he had the L.A. Lakers near the top of the Western Conference before going down with the muscle injury.
Are we still talking about the guy who across his 55 games played during last season averaged 27.4 points per game, a click higher than his career average of 27.2? Are we talking about the guy who averaged 8.5 rebounds, the third-highest average for a season over his career, with the only two higher being in the previous two seasons where he averaged 8.6 boards per game?
We can’t be talking about the guy who averaged 8.3 assists per game last season, a full assist and some change higher than his career average of 7.2 dimes per. No, we can’t be talking about the same person.
A quick scan of the list would lead you to believe that they have Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo ranked as one and two, in some order, ahead of LeBron James. We are talking about two guys who play better defense throughout the year, as LeBron has admitted that he sometimes takes a break on the defensive end throughout the long regular season, but also two guys with clear and obvious faults.
The Freak as Hubie Brown likes to call him is a machine in the paint, but that’s where it stops. His jump shot isn’t broke per se, but it looks like it and he treats it that way. Until he can trust his jump shot enough to shoot it consistently, he will never be ahead of LeBron James. Stephen A. Smith dared to say that he would possibly rank him lower than the third spot on Thursday’s episode of First Take, which wouldn’t necessarily be wrong considering the depth and importance of his particular deficiency.
The Claw is a defensive savant, indeed he is, but he is nowhere near the offensive threat on all levels that LeBron James is, while his ability to get his teammates involved is a joke compared to The Chosen One. We are still waiting for Kawhi to achieve a triple-double in the league, you know, that thing that requires you to obtain 10 or more assists. We’ll wait, but who has that much time.
Alright alright. Enough is enough. The throne has been played with to much and I ain’t for horseplay. Ether coming soon! 😁🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👑 #JamesGang✊🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 1, 2019
As LeBron James and others have said for much of the offseason, he will simply have to remind you guys of who he is this coming season. I fully expect him to do just that, hopefully just not against the Miami Heat.
The only other guy that could make a case to legitly be ahead of LeBron James isn’t even on the list I believe, due to injury, which is Kevin Durant. Even he though would still rank behind The King.
To quote the great Stephen A. one more time, it’s “blasphemous” to rank LeBron James anywhere besides at the top. That is where he should be seated, at his throne.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you. #DHTK!