Criticize Lebron all you want, but saying he's not a first ballot HOFer is just dumb. I'm not sure if these guys were 1st ballot or not, but Malone, Stockton, and Barkley all come to mind.
MVP is for a player who played outstanding basketball and lead to great team success.. Being the best player doesn't mean you're going to win every year. DRose was top 5 in scoring and assists, had a great year, and lead the bulls to #1 seed. But, of course, LeBron needs to win the MVP this year. He absolutely deserves it. Not to mention he definitely should have won DPOTY.
There's no '1st ballot' for the NBA HOF. Skip clearly said going by MLB/NFL standards, LBJ would not be a 1st ballot HOFer because of his playoff failures. I can see his point.
What a horrible analogy <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>I think Tiago Splitter is already a first ballot Hall of Famer by basketball Hall standards.</p>— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSkipBayless/status/198468390279589888" data-datetime="2012-05-04T17:45:26+00:00">May 4, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Who's a worse sports news figure? @<a href="https://twitter.com/RealSkipBayless">RealSkipBayless</a> or @<a href="https://twitter.com/sportsguy33">sportsguy33</a>? Two of the most ignorant in the business! <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523nba">#nba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523espn">#espn</a></p>— 713sports (@cankercor) <a href="https://twitter.com/cankercor/status/198477080021831680" data-datetime="2012-05-04T18:19:58+00:00">May 4, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even going by NFL/MLB standard he would be a 1st ballot guy right now. Here is a list of players who have 1800+ points 4500+ rebounds 4500+ assists 1000+ steals. <style type="text/css"> table.tableizer-table {border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;} .tableizer-table td {padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc;} .tableizer-table th {background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold;} </style> <table class="tableizer-table"> <tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Rk</th><th>Player</th><th>From</th><th>To</th><th>Tm</th><th>Lg</th><th>G</th><th>GS</th><th>MP</th><th>FG</th><th>FGA</th><th>3P</th><th>3PA</th><th>FT</th><th>FTA</th><th>ORB</th><th>DRB</th><th>TRB</th><th>AST</th><th>STL</th><th>BLK ▾</th><th>TOV</th><th>PF</th><th>PTS</th><th>FG%</th><th>3P%</th><th>FT%</th><th>WS</th></tr> <tr><td>1</td><td>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*</td><td>1970</td><td>1989</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1560</td><td>625</td><td>57446</td><td>15837</td><td>28307</td><td>1</td><td>18</td><td>6712</td><td>9304</td><td>2975</td><td>9394</td><td>17440</td><td>5660</td><td>1160</td><td>3189</td><td>2527</td><td>4657</td><td>38387</td><td>.559</td><td>.056</td><td>.721</td><td>273.4</td></tr> <tr><td>2</td><td>Kevin Garnett</td><td>1996</td><td>2012</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1255</td><td>1218</td><td>45779</td><td>9729</td><td>19515</td><td>171</td><td>605</td><td>4641</td><td>5876</td><td>3011</td><td>10302</td><td>13313</td><td>5065</td><td>1664</td><td>1908</td><td>2938</td><td>3105</td><td>24270</td><td>.499</td><td>.283</td><td>.790</td><td>181.6</td></tr> <tr><td>3</td><td>Karl Malone*</td><td>1986</td><td>2004</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1476</td><td>1471</td><td>54852</td><td>13528</td><td>26210</td><td>85</td><td>310</td><td>9787</td><td>13188</td><td>3562</td><td>11406</td><td>14968</td><td>5248</td><td>2085</td><td>1145</td><td>4524</td><td>4578</td><td>36928</td><td>.516</td><td>.274</td><td>.742</td><td>234.6</td></tr> <tr><td>4</td><td>Scottie Pippen*</td><td>1988</td><td>2004</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1178</td><td>1053</td><td>41069</td><td>7420</td><td>15700</td><td>978</td><td>3002</td><td>3122</td><td>4437</td><td>2068</td><td>5426</td><td>7494</td><td>6135</td><td>2307</td><td>947</td><td>3257</td><td>3329</td><td>18940</td><td>.473</td><td>.326</td><td>.704</td><td>125.1</td></tr> <tr><td>5</td><td>Michael Jordan*</td><td>1985</td><td>2003</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1072</td><td>1039</td><td>41011</td><td>12192</td><td>24537</td><td>581</td><td>1778</td><td>7327</td><td>8772</td><td>1668</td><td>5004</td><td>6672</td><td>5633</td><td>2514</td><td>893</td><td>2924</td><td>2783</td><td>32292</td><td>.497</td><td>.327</td><td>.835</td><td>214.0</td></tr> <tr><td>6</td><td>Larry Bird*</td><td>1980</td><td>1992</td><td>BOS</td><td>NBA</td><td>897</td><td>870</td><td>34443</td><td>8591</td><td>17334</td><td>649</td><td>1727</td><td>3960</td><td>4471</td><td>1757</td><td>7217</td><td>8974</td><td>5695</td><td>1556</td><td>755</td><td>2816</td><td>2279</td><td>21791</td><td>.496</td><td>.376</td><td>.886</td><td>145.8</td></tr> <tr><td>7</td><td>Clyde Drexler*</td><td>1984</td><td>1998</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1086</td><td>950</td><td>37537</td><td>8335</td><td>17673</td><td>827</td><td>2603</td><td>4698</td><td>5962</td><td>2615</td><td>4062</td><td>6677</td><td>6125</td><td>2207</td><td>719</td><td>2977</td><td>3285</td><td>22195</td><td>.472</td><td>.318</td><td>.788</td><td>135.6</td></tr> <tr><td>8</td><td>Kobe Bryant</td><td>1997</td><td>2012</td><td>LAL</td><td>NBA</td><td>1161</td><td>1013</td><td>42377</td><td>10286</td><td>22706</td><td>1505</td><td>4472</td><td>7407</td><td>8842</td><td>1364</td><td>4778</td><td>6142</td><td>5418</td><td>1722</td><td>594</td><td>3432</td><td>2991</td><td>29484</td><td>.453</td><td>.337</td><td>.838</td><td>162.4</td></tr> <tr><td>9</td><td>LeBron James</td><td>2004</td><td>2012</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>689</td><td>688</td><td>27497</td><td>6794</td><td>14057</td><td>917</td><td>2772</td><td>4540</td><td>6082</td><td>852</td><td>4091</td><td>4943</td><td>4751</td><td>1194</td><td>582</td><td>2299</td><td>1329</td><td>19045</td><td>.483</td><td>.331</td><td>.746</td><td>133.3</td></tr> <tr><td>10</td><td>Gary Payton</td><td>1991</td><td>2007</td><td>TOT</td><td>NBA</td><td>1335</td><td>1233</td><td>47117</td><td>8708</td><td>18698</td><td>1132</td><td>3570</td><td>3265</td><td>4480</td><td>1392</td><td>3877</td><td>5269</td><td>8966</td><td>2445</td><td>285</td><td>3030</td><td>3217</td><td>21813</td><td>.466</td><td>.317</td><td>.729</td><td>145.5</td></tr></table> Every one of those guys is a 1st ballot HOF so why would lebron not be one.
Yet, does he think Steve Nash is a first ballot Hall of Fame player (because someone did once proclaim him as the best point guard ever)? According to Bayless's faulty logic, Dan Marino and Fran Tarkenton wouldn't be first ballot Hall of Fame QBs, either. Remember, this is coming from someone who champions Tim Tebow. Why are we giving credibility to a possible mental asylum patient?
Going by NFL/MLB standards, ummm let's see LeBron's equivalent. Probably Peyton Manning or Dan Marino.
I see what you are alluding to.. or I think... (pink elephant in the room) I can say the same about Chris (Lebrahhhhhn) Broussard and Steven A. (I love Carmelo) Smith. Those guys are just as annoying and homerish.
If there ever a sports section/show on the Fox News Channel, Skip Bayless would have his own show. flakenstein Skip d.i.ckless brings up the Orlando series. Lebron did 38 - 9 - 9. That's right 38ppg, 9rebs, 9asts. One of the greatest series of all time. Then he's calling a 27-19-10 game pathetic? Seriously, can we start a petition to get rid of this guy? It's an embarrassment to journalism. 4 Minutes Ago Perfect match.
Still can't believe people watch that show(First Take), pay any attention to what those clowns say, and then get 'mad' at what they say. Shame on you! "You" actually take the time to watch, listen, and then go talk about it and get it trending on twitter. I'll never understand.
Those points are irrelevant, though. It's not really a matter of being homerish, annoying, or even having a dislike for player (or perceived dislike). A couple of weeks ago, that show had segment about how credible are sportswriters when it comes to talking about athletes (and athletes questioning the judgement of sportswriters - this happened after Durant had some comments for critics, especially Bayless, when harsh criticism was direct at Westbrook). When sports bloggers, writers, or journalists make certain comments or declarations about a player, team, or aspect of the game that is very controversial, bias, and sometimes misleading and contradicting to actuality. They can and should be seen as less credible source, especially if they are not involved with the sport or never have been a part of organized sports league. If Larry Bird, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Bill Russell, Larry Brown, and many other NBA greats (players/coaches/GMs/scouts) said LeBron has no business being in the Hall of Fame. I'd be more inclined to say they may have a more than valid position. On the other hand, if they believe differently and say that he is one of the greatest players ever (unquestionable first ballot). I would hold that as more valuable than a common sportswriter's or blogger's opinions about Lebron unless it is credible. With Bayless, alot of his positions are misleading and hypocritical, especially with Lebron and Tebow. One example, he fumed over how Denver treated Tebow and did not give him a fair chance, after having great opening playoff game. Though, Bayless dismissed how Tebow struggled in Divisional playoffs and the last two games of the season, while completing less than 50% of his passes (as sophomore quarterback). Honestly, there are kids in college who currently would make more competent NFL passers than Tebow. Even now, I doubt Luck, Griffin, or Tannehill will be as poor passers as Tebow. Bayless does asset that Tebow will never become a pro-bowler (I doubt, because of fan base), but does not fail to see that being an average starter at QB is not what most teams are looking for. One just has to ask the Baltimore Ravens or San Francisco 49ers. With Lebron, Bayless criticizes him mostly for ratings and even some personal dislike on some level. You can criticize someone in an outrageous manner, but over time ... it sort of becomes tiresome, if you go overboard with it -- Bayless went over the ship years ago, like it was the Titanic sinking. You have to keep things into context and judge things rationally. This season, he often propped up Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and whoever outside of Lebron, even when the Heat had a fantastic record earlier on (and winning without Dwyane Wade). The reason people are lapping up Lebron is because he really is that good. Personally, I've never seen Parker or Paul change as many games around as much as I have Lebron, this season or any season. Obviously, they are not quite as good, which is why many still continue to give him MVP votes or accolades. He's the best player in the league right now, overall. According to Bayless, we should reward people who do a good job or are running 2nd or 3rd, because the 1st place person is flawed (yet the other players are as well). His peers either think he's crazy or is appealing to the lowest common denominator. You also have to remember that he has been accused of saying some not so kosher things about certain athletes, such as Troy Aikman or Tony Dorsett.
Out of 32, 5 did not win rings: Alex English Charles Barkley John Stockton Karl Malone Patrick Ewing Pete Maravich should be on that list, but he was a 2nd year HOFer. also, I'm not really agreeing with Alex English as a 1st ballot.
