Popular Assyrian-American podcaster Patrick Bet-David has ripped LeBron James over his recent comments on the state of the NBA. Amid declining ratings, James stated that too many threes are being shot in the league and Bet-David took offense to it, as he perceived it to be a shot at Stephen Curry.
“The NBA’s decline happened under your tenure. Period,” Bet-David stated. “Blaming the 3-point shot for it is just you throwing shade at Steph Curry. Quite frankly, he’s been more exciting to watch than you.”
The NBA’s decline happened under your tenure. Period.
Blaming the 3-point shot for it is just you throwing shade at Steph Curry.
Quite frankly, he’s been more exciting to watch than you.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) December 21, 2024
James’ comments did not come across to many as a shot at Curry, but that is how Bet-David, host of the PBD Podcast and Valuetainment, took them. Here is what the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said and you can be the judge on whether it was a shot at his great rival.
“We gotta do something,” James said when asked about the change in the format for the All-Star game. “Obviously, the last couple of years have not been a great All-Star Game, that Sunday night.
“But listen, it’s a bigger conversation, it’s not just the All-Star Game. It’s also our game in general,” James continued. “… It’s a lot of f***ing threes being shot. So, it’s a bigger conversation than just the All-Star Game.”
That does not seem like a shot. James is also far from the first to suggest that fans are being put off by all threes, as plenty of former players like Shaquille O’Neal have said it as well. Were they all taking a shot at Curry? No, they weren’t.
Also, Bet-David placing the blame somewhat at James’ feet for the NBA’s ratings going down is absurd. The 39-year-old remains a huge draw and a big issue has been that superstars of the generation that followed his have been unable to come close to matching him in that regard.
The NBA’s cable ratings were down 19% from last year through the NBA Cup semifinals and there is no denying that it is concerning. Thinking that James bears responsibility for it is ridiculous, though. There’s a lot more that goes into it.
Bet-David wasn’t done after putting out that initial post. He went a step further on the absurdity scale by claiming that James is the worst face of the NBA.
“He’s hands down the worst face of the NBA ever,” Bet-David added. “He’s on the top 5 list. Respect him as a father but he hurts the NBA brand immensely.”
He’s hands down the worst face of the NBA ever.
He’s on the top 5 list. Respect him as a father but he hurts the NBA brand immensely.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) December 21, 2024
Despite having the spotlight on him, James has never been involved in any kind of scandal, so calling him the worst face of the NBA ever is laughable. Has the 20-time All-Star made some mistakes here and there? Sure, but he is not even close to being the worst.
As for Bet-David’s other point, valuations of NBA teams have skyrocketed over the years. According to Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen, the Golden State Warriors are currently the most valuable NBA franchise with a valuation of $9.14 billion.
The New York Knicks are second with a value of $8.3 billion while the Lakers are third at $8.07 billion. While the rest are a bit further back, I’m not sure one can claim that James has hurt the brand immensely when three teams are valued at over $8 billion.
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