LeBron James: How Walt Frazier’s comments about him affects the NBA

LeBron James out of the NBA playoffs leaves questions

Right now, fans are just in a daze knowing that a LeBron James led basketball team is not going to be in the playoffs. The frustration goes far past the hardwood. Think about what ESPN, TNT and other NBA networks are going through having to change marketing strategies because their biggest star is out of the postseason.

Here’s a nugget of information for Lakers fans to think about. You will hear the same narrative of the Lakers being in 4th place on Christmas Day. Let’s look deeper, shall we?

The Lakers had a very soft schedule up until that point. The networks usually schedule the most appealing matchups for after the Super Bowl. Those happen to be the tougher games on the Lakers schedule.

Now that the Lakers season is basically done, networks like ESPN are left to defend LeBron for a couple of reasons, one being they base a lot of their NBA coverage around LeBron James.

Number two is that they still need eyes to watch the rest of the Lakers games this season. Then they have to get the casual NBA fan to tune in for the playoffs.

With NBA ratings dropping this year, ESPN, has to look at the bottom line and be worried being the network that is carrying the Western Conference playoffs.

Stephen A. Smith was very opinionated about Frazier’s comments.

Whether you like LeBron James or not, he represents a lot of money for a lot of people. This includes ESPN, who paid billions of dollars for the rights to Western Conference playoff games. Tony Kornheiser said himself that this is a “LeBron-centric” network.

The NBA has long attached the phrase “The Best Player in the World” to LeBron James. They have used him as the marketing engine much like they did Michael Jordan in the 90s.

The problem with this business model is that the best player in the world is supposed to win. Jordan dominated the NBA to the point that no one even had to say it. He won championships throughout the decade beating the best the NBA had to offer.

LeBron James went to an iconic franchise in the Lakers and the team imploded. The Lakers fans are frustrated and want to know why. A statement of LeBron James not caring provides some insight into what is going on possibly behind the scenes no matter if it’s true or not.

Long story short, LeBron James has been the topic of conversation for so many sports media for 15 years going into the playoffs, especially the last eight. Now we all have to find something different to talks about during the NBA playoffs.