Last week, Luka Doncic scored 60 points in a win over the Miami Heat. Naturally, that great performance from Luka has become the next avenue for some more blatant disrespect for the Miami Heat and, specifically, Bam Adebayo.
Tim MacMahon, who was one of the loudest critics of Bam when he scored 83 points a few weeks ago, didn't waste much time to say that Luka's 60-point night against the Heat, on the second night of a back-to-back, was more impressive than Bam's record-breaking performance.
The disrespect of Bam is still going on
While Luka's performance was certainly impressive, this is one of those things that just isn't true. As many have already come to the defense of Bam over the last couple of weeks, it's just that much more frustrating to see MacMahon continue to bring it up in a negative light.
Using Luka as a way to kick Bam and to take away from his performance just isn't fair to either player.
And it continues to echo one of the biggest problems that exists in the NBA's media world right now - and it's this constant tension of not being able to celebrate two separate accomplishments without negating another.
Bam's record-breaking performance and Luka's impressive 60-point night can both be impressive. They can both be great. Perhaps most importantly, they don't have to be compared to each other.
However, whether it's for traction or headlines (which, I guess, is working), MacMahon couldn't help himself with this argument.
He couldn't help but kick Bam one more time (while he was down) while praising Luka for his accomplishment.
Luka can be celebrated without criticizing Bam
Praise both. Celebrate both. The fact that much of the media feels the need to pit them against one another continues to be one of the most annoying storylines that has transpired across the NBA this season. And that includes the tanking epidemic that has poisoned the league.
Luka had a great night. But just because he had a great night doesn't mean that the first reaction has to be to tear down Bam.
That's not healthy, and not what the NBA is about. That's not fair to either athlete or either of their performances.
Nevertheless, this has quickly become the frustrating norm that has begun to spread across "debate culture" in the media.
But, again, Bam and the Heat have become an easy target. Unfair to Luka, he's found himself at the center of this blatant disrespect again.