What if games were simply broadcasted w/out commentary or review (no sports media)

[Airupthere]

Yes, the '96-'98 Bulls were stacked. You could even call them a super team. The thing is, Jordan never lost with a stacked team. If he had led a super team to the lottery like other superstars have, then he probably wouldn't be consensus GOAT.

Oh shit

[Axe]

Without the media reminding people of his ringlessness early in his career, and his 2011 choke, random fans tuning in would easily see how he stands out compared to the competition. I think you're way off base here.

[bison]

3ball is right. I don’t think any nba player has benefited more from the ‘hot take’ culture of modern sports talk than LeBron James. These shows hook their viewers with engagement bait, usually by expressing outrageous takes or ‘controversial’ opinions, and nothing trolls more people than ranking LeBron above Jordan. It’s all for show, they don’t actually believe what they say.

[pandiani17]

Answering the original question, lots of players that do not stand out would go overlooked. For example, Rajon Rondo or Derek Fisher. Casual fans would wonder what they were doing in the court.

[ILLsmak]

3ball is right. I don’t think any nba player has benefited more from the ‘hot take’ culture of modern sports talk than LeBron James. These shows hook their viewers with engagement bait, usually by expressing outrageous takes or ‘controversial’ opinions, and nothing trolls more people than ranking LeBron above Jordan. It’s all for show, they don’t actually believe what they say.

To be fair to Bron, he also got shit on way more than anyone else. I dunno anybody who has heads who have made a career out of shitting on them.

I do think the GOAT talk is troll, and even Bron knows it. Like he said when he was talking about what his son could call him "Or GOAT, you know..." He is just such a bitch you think he might be serious haha. I honestly don't think he thinks he's better than MJ, but he definitely has the resume to at least get attention.

But yeah, he got both sides. He's def the most polarizing. Think about how polarizing Kobe was, but I don't recall anyone coming up off of shitting on Kobe. Am I tripping?

-Smak

[WhiteKyrie]

I’d honestly wish there was an option just to have in game and in arena atmosphere sounds over broadcasters. Way more immersive. Get more mics by the floor. I want to hear the shit talk too. Unless there is some super likable or entertaining announcers kind of like Stacey King etc

[ShawkFactory]

Without the media reminding people of his ringlessness early in his career, and his 2011 choke, random fans tuning in would easily see how he stands out compared to the competition. I think you're way off base here.

Lol yea I was going to say something similar. Very rarely is he not just blatantly the most outstanding player on the court.

[3ba11]

L

Very rarely is he not just blatantly the most outstanding player on the court.

2007 1st Round

Jamison............... 32 on 48%
Lebron'................ 28 on 43%


2007 Finals

Parker................ 25 on 47%... 3 TO's... 16.2 gmsc
Lebron............... 22 on 36%... 6 TO's... 10.6 gmsc


2008 2nd Round

Garnett............... 20 on 55%.. 1 TO's.. 17.6 gmsc
Lebron................ 26 on 35%.. 6 TO's.. 17.5 gmsc


2011 2nd Round

Wade............... 30 on 50%
Lebron............. 28 on 50%


2011 ECF

Bosh'............... 23 on 60%
Lebron............. 26 on 45%


2011 Finals

Dirk................ 26 on 42%
Lebron............ 18 on 48%


2012 Finals


Durant............ 31 on 55%
Lebron............ 29 on 47%


2014 ECF

George'........... 24 on 45% (faced 1 on 5 coverage)
Lebron............ 23 on 56% (had equal-scoring partner in Wade)


2016 1st Round

Kyrie.............. 28 on 47%
Lebron'........... 23 on 48%


2017 Finals

Durant.......... 35 on 56%
Lebron.......... 34 on 56%


2018 Finals

Durant.......... 29 on 53%... FMVP
Lebron.......... 34 on 53%


2020 1st Round

AD............... 30 on 57%
Lebron'......... 27 on 60%


2020 2nd Round

AD............... 25 on 60%
Lebron'......... 26 on 51%


2020 WCF

AD............... 30 on 55%
Lebron'......... 25 on 50%


2010 (last 3 games)

Rondo............... 22 on 52%
Lebron.............. 21 on 34% (quit)

[HylianNightmare]

I'd be happier

[ShawkFactory]

2007 1st Round

Jamison............... 32 on 48%
Lebron'................ 28 on 43%


2007 Finals

Parker................ 25 on 47%... 3 TO's... 16.2 gmsc
Lebron............... 22 on 36%... 6 TO's... 10.6 gmsc


2008 2nd Round

Garnett............... 20 on 55%.. 1 TO's.. 17.6 gmsc
Lebron................ 26 on 35%.. 6 TO's.. 17.5 gmsc


2011 2nd Round

Wade............... 30 on 50%
Lebron............. 28 on 50%


2011 ECF

Bosh'............... 23 on 60%
Lebron............. 26 on 45%


2011 Finals

Dirk................ 26 on 42%
Lebron............ 18 on 48%


2012 Finals


Durant............ 31 on 55%
Lebron............ 29 on 47%


2014 ECF

George'........... 24 on 45% (faced 1 on 5 coverage)
Lebron............ 23 on 56% (had equal-scoring partner in Wade)


2016 1st Round

Kyrie.............. 28 on 47%
Lebron'........... 23 on 48%


2017 Finals

Durant.......... 35 on 56%
Lebron.......... 34 on 56%


2018 Finals

Durant.......... 29 on 53%... FMVP
Lebron.......... 34 on 53%


2020 1st Round

AD............... 30 on 57%
Lebron'......... 27 on 60%


2020 2nd Round

AD............... 25 on 60%
Lebron'......... 26 on 51%


2020 WCF

AD............... 30 on 55%
Lebron'......... 25 on 50%


2010 (last 3 games)

Rondo............... 22 on 52%
Lebron.............. 21 on 34% (quit)

I don't think you realize how much you're helping my point.

[Full Court]

I don't think you realize how much you're helping my point.

I don't think you realize how much you're helping the OP's point.

Because while the commentators are busy slurping Lebron, AD is routinely outplaying him and has been far more impactful since 2020.

Yet people are led to believe that Lebron is the most "oustanding player on the court."

[ShawkFactory]

I don't think you realize how much you're helping the OP's point.

Because while the commentators are busy slurping Lebron, AD is routinely outplaying him and has been far more impactful since 2020.

Yet people are led to believe that Lebron is the most "oustanding player on the court."

I don't even listen to commentary most of the time. Have the game on my computer while also watching something else with my wife. I use my eyes to determine these things.

[Full Court]

I don't even listen to commentary most of the time. Have the game on my computer while also watching something else with my wife. I use my eyes to determine these things.

I can't speak for you, but a lot of people are indeed influenced by the commentating - particularly the ones who don't get the nuances of the game.

Really, the ESPN ones are the main ones I'm talking about. There are some good commentators out there that actually add to the game.

[StrongLurk]

2007 1st Round

Jamison............... 32 on 48%
Lebron'................ 28 on 43%


2007 Finals

Parker................ 25 on 47%... 3 TO's... 16.2 gmsc
Lebron............... 22 on 36%... 6 TO's... 10.6 gmsc


2008 2nd Round

Garnett............... 20 on 55%.. 1 TO's.. 17.6 gmsc
Lebron................ 26 on 35%.. 6 TO's.. 17.5 gmsc


2011 2nd Round

Wade............... 30 on 50%
Lebron............. 28 on 50%


2011 ECF

Bosh'............... 23 on 60%
Lebron............. 26 on 45%


2011 Finals

Dirk................ 26 on 42%
Lebron............ 18 on 48%


2012 Finals


Durant............ 31 on 55%
Lebron............ 29 on 47%


2014 ECF

George'........... 24 on 45% (faced 1 on 5 coverage)
Lebron............ 23 on 56% (had equal-scoring partner in Wade)


2016 1st Round

Kyrie.............. 28 on 47%
Lebron'........... 23 on 48%


2017 Finals

Durant.......... 35 on 56%
Lebron.......... 34 on 56%


2018 Finals

Durant.......... 29 on 53%... FMVP
Lebron.......... 34 on 53%


2020 1st Round

AD............... 30 on 57%
Lebron'......... 27 on 60%


2020 2nd Round

AD............... 25 on 60%
Lebron'......... 26 on 51%


2020 WCF

AD............... 30 on 55%
Lebron'......... 25 on 50%


2010 (last 3 games)

Rondo............... 22 on 52%
Lebron.............. 21 on 34% (quit)

Lebron has never been outplayed in a playoff series.

[3ba11]

Lebron has never been outplayed in a playoff series.

Dirk, Wade, Durant, Kyrie, Parker, Garnett and AD did