So in a year where two small forwards won regular season MVP and Finals MVP...

[russwest0]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.

[JellyBean]

1). Because he is the best player on the planet.

2). Sometimes you face a team, or teams, that are better than your team.

3). Who else are we going to talk about? The King is the face of the league.

[russwest0]

1). Because he is the best player on the planet.

Dat ESPN-esque circular reasoning logic.

Just keep repeating the same thing until people blindly accept it as fact. I'm sure it'll work.

[dubeta]

LeBron > Kawhi > Durant

LeBron 2 FMVP's 4 MVP's

Kawhi and Durant combined 1 FMVP 1 MVP

Deal with it.

[K Xerxes]

LeBron didn't get outplayed by anyone in the finals individually. He also didn't arguably get outplayed by anyone else on his team throughout the playoffs like Durant.

LeBron is still the best player on the planet until Durant can translate his regular season form into the playoffs.

[uber]

lol @ outplayed .. Lebron is still the best player in the nba and it's not even close

[Oly BC]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.

Probably something to do with the channel's owners and Lebron's sponsors.

[Ne 1]

LeBron was clearly outplayed by Leonard in the 2 biggest games of the Finals on his home court too. He's a role player and with LeBron as his matchup he looked like an All-Star in games 3-5.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.

If MJ had today's crazy marketability for its best players, he coulda probably bought the Bulls instead of the Bobcats and been a multibillionare by now.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

LeBron was clearly outplayed by Leonard in the 2 biggest games of the Finals on his home court too. He's a role player and with LeBron as his matchup he looked like an All-Star in games 3-5.

LeBron is overrated. I honestly wish they talked more about US soccer team history in the World Cup and cover the remaining teams. Heck even talk about women's tennis in Wimbledon, if you follow tennis, the tournament has been crazy on the women's side. Tons of upsets.

[Kblaze8855]

Calling legit basketball people "the media" doesnt mean they dont know the game. NBA coaches working for a tv station dont forget about basketball. lebron is considered the best by most people id say are involved with or care a lot about the game.

The media follows general opinion more than they set it.

Nobody gives a shit whats on espn.

[SouBeachTalents]

Calling legit basketball people "the media" doesnt mean they dont know the game. NBA coaches working for a tv station dont forget about basketball. lebron is considered the best by most people id say are involved with or care a lot about the game.

The media follows general opinion more than they set it.

Nobody gives a shit whats on espn.

Except for the OP apparently

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Except for the OP apparently

Sometimes for fun I watch SportsCenter and see how much they mention LeBron in an hour. I think yesterday it was like 24 times.

[SouBeachTalents]

Sometimes for fun I watch SportsCenter and see how much they mention LeBron in an hour. I think yesterday it was like 24 times.

Lol, they've done the same in the past for Favre, Tebow, and coming this fall, Johnny Manziel. How anyone can watch that show regularly is beyond me

[RoundMoundOfReb]

ESPN in OP's head rent free.