Scouts, Executives Don’t Believe LeBron is the Best Player in the League

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James’ reign as King of the NBA is all but over according to a new poll. LeBron definitely didn’t get much love from NBA scouts and executives who were recently polled, asking them who the best player in the league is. The two players who received the most votes in the poll were The Greek Freak and KD.

Two other NBA superstars got the votes. Who is the best player in the NBA heading into the 2021-22 season?” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote.

“T1. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 5 votes

“T1. Kevin Durant: 5”

“The only other name even mentioned by those polled was James, though he ultimately didn’t receive any votes,” Bontemps continued. “It was clear all three stars were on a level unto themselves at this point.”

After Antetokounmpo powered the Bucks to an NBA title and Durant — following his incredible performance against Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference semifinals — led Team USA to a fourth straight gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, the two of them split the voting for the honor of the league’s top player going into next season.

For those who backed Antetokounmpo, the reasoning was obvious: the way he guided Milwaukee through the playoffs and to the franchise’s first title in 50 years.

“People love to focus on his faults,” an Eastern Conference executive said of Antetokounmpo, “but he’s a hell of a player.”

Another East executive pointed to past stars who have taken another step forward after breaking through and winning a title, and he expects Antetokounmpo to do the same.

“He’s unlocked a different cheat code at both ends that gives him that spot,” he said. “You can certainly argue for Durant and LeBron [James], but between injury and age, can they consistently do it?”

New ESPN story: Who is the NBA’s best player? What were the best and worst moves of the offseason? Who is going to win the title next season? We posed those questions, and more, to scouts and executives around the league as the offseason winds down: https://t.co/gCxNqcs8NR

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 19, 2021

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That being said he’s still one of the top 5 players in the league.

Every star deals with his decline at some point. Lebron is still putting up great numbers, but for how much longer?

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