© Kirby Lee | 2021 Jun 3
Being a consensus top two player of all time and four-time NBA champion hasn’t stopped LeBron James from getting irked by a perceived lack of respect.
The latest incident comes via a relatively innocuous poll of NBA executives and scouts conducted by ESPN, in which none of the 10 individuals polled voted for James as the league’s best player. The votes were split between Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who received five apiece.
When James caught wind of this, he took to both Twitter and Instagram to let the public know that a) he’ll be using this as fuel, and b) he’s not mad, he’s actually laughing.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 19, 2021
THANK YOU! As if I didn’t need more to⛽️ ME! #Washed?
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1428427962387419138/photo/1
appears like ‘Bron finds it hilarious he received zero votes for the best player in the league. pic.twitter.com/nkTCVRCd2r
— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) August 19, 2021
There is a strong case to be made that James is still the best player in the league at age 36. He finished second in NBA real-plus minus last season, trailing only Stephen Curry. He averaged 25 points, and over seven rebounds and seven assists while shooting over 51% from the field.
Yet James’ injury-riddled Lakers did not experience the kind of postseason success he is used to, losing to the Suns in the first round of the playoffs after James’ co-star in L.A., forward Anthony Davis, suffered a groin strain in Game 4.
The Lakers also missed the playoffs in 2019. That offseason James also didn’t receive a single vote in a similar ESPN survey.