LeBron James is one of the most famous athletes on the planet.
But James’ 2020-2021 campaign ended in humiliation.
And now LeBron James received this surprising news ahead of next season.
James and the Lakers suffered through an injury ravaged season in 2021 leading to a disappointing seventh place finish in the Western Conference.
The Phoenix Suns bounced the Lakers in the first round, making last year the first time in James’ career that he failed to advance past the opening round of the playoffs.
And it looks like the NBA scouts and executives see the end of the LeBron era approaching.
ESPN polled 10 scouts and executives and not one named James as the league’s best player.
The Daily Caller reports:
ESPN recently polled 10 unnamed scouts and executives on who is the best player in the league, and LeBron James didn’t receive a single vote.
The 10 votes were split equally between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.
To add insult to injury to James and the Lakers, these same scouts and executives listed the Lakers trade for veteran guard Russell Westbrook as one of the worst moves of the NBA offseason.
“Look, I’m trying to give LeBron the benefit of the doubt on this,” a Western Conference scout told ESPN. “But given what they could’ve done, I don’t see that fit working out over the course of the season. I’m a huge Westbrook fan. I just don’t like the fit.”
The Lakers are still listed as one of the favorites to take home this year’s NBA title.
But if the Lakers do win the title, it will have less to do with James carrying the load than the supporting cast picking up the slack.
Sports with Balls will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
