After Being Disrespected in Recent NBA List, LeBron James’ “Selfish Motivation” Gets Reminisced by His $17 Million Rich Critic

Published 09/13/2023, 2:13 PM EDT

As the new NBA season approaches, LeBron James finds himself in an unusual position. According to NBA player rankings, James is 12th in the league. It’s a rating that has raised eyebrows and prompted debate, but it also sets the setting for a season that might once again alter LeBron’s legacy. This is not only among the fans, but it has been a point of debate among NBA analysts. And the point one of the NBA analysts made about LeBron James will shock you completely.

Skip Bayless talks about LeBrons rankings

LeBron has been at or near the forefront of every basketball conversation for years. His domination on the court, along with his incredible adaptability, made him a constant candidate for the title of best player in the game. This season might be LeBron’s most difficult ever. As he starts his 21st season in the NBA, he confronts the enormous job of demonstrating that. And despite his diminishing position in the league’s hierarchy, he remains capable of steering a team to championship success.

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He’s a 4x NBA champion, the league’s all-time greatest scorer (passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and the league’s all-time assist leader. Along the way, he’s won four MVP honors and four NBA Finals MVP awards. However, most of these accomplishments occurred while LeBron was regarded as the best or one of the best players in the game. This season, though, presents an additional problem. LeBron’s job has changed as he has become older and wiser, and his body has become more prone to ailments. However, after the NBA player ranking came in, James was not even in the top 10. For this Skip Shanon, an NBA analyst gave a bold outlook. He said, “That stretch from his birthday on 30th December to passing Kareem on February 7th, he was the best player in the league. THE BEST, Number 1. He averaged 34 (points), 9 (assists), and 8 (rebounds)”.

Further adding, “Obviously, there was some selfish motivation because he was trying to catch and pass Kareem Abdul Jabbar, which I never thought would be possible. But, his longevity has been supreme in this league.”

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James’s standing in the league

Last season, the flaws in LeBron’s barriers began to appear. Despite playing fewer than 70 games for the sixth consecutive year and failing to reach 60 games in four seasons; it was the first time his preseason player rankings dipped so much. But LeBron is still a wild card, capable of surprising even his toughest doubters. He has even voiced a desire to participate for Team USA in the Olympics next summer. He averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor for the Lakers last season.

During the playoffs, he averaged an amazing 25-10-7, leading the Lakers to an unexpected Western Conference finals appearance. While he was not always their strongest player, he was undeniably their most important asset. The next season will put LeBron to the test in new ways. Younger, more eager competitors are growing, and the continuous flow of time threatens even the best athletes. But if anybody can defy expectations and rewrite history, it’s LeBron James.

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Watch this Story: Charles Barkley Slyly Takes a Dig at Lebron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant While Putting Nikola Jokic on a Pedestal

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Written by:

Dhruv is an NBA writer at ES with years of playing experience to name. Despite the ankle injury barring him from playing further, he never lost touch with the sport. He loves the swag and the attitude basketball players possess.

Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja

After Being Disrespected in Recent NBA List, LeBron James’ “Selfish Motivation” Gets Reminisced by His $17 Million Rich Critic

Skip Bayless talks about LeBrons rankings

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James’s standing in the league