ESPN
After beating the Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers over the weekend, hot take shows on ESPN have decided to debate whether LeBron James was worthy of MVP consideration over Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 29.6 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in 30 minutes.
During Monday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Jump”, NBA reporter Dave McMenamin says he believes LeBron has the edge in the MVP race because of the way he’s handled stuff outside of the court like the China controversy and Kobe Bryant’s death this season.
https://twitter.com/FTBeard1/status/1237104433432899584
This isn’t the first time an ESPN reporter has used Kobe’s death as a narrative to give LeBron the MVP award. Here is Rachel Nichols about a month ago during an NBA primetime pregame show.
https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA2/status/1226355329946071040
NBA fans found it to be distasteful of ESPN to use Kobe’s death and not stats as a metric for LeBron to win the MVP.
https://twitter.com/SVwordgirl/status/1237188504867598337
They're using Kobe's death to justify Bron winning MVP? First of all, Giannis was also close to Kobe. Secondly, using death to further a MVP campaign is DISGUSTING! https://t.co/TDJq6JKwdY
— MAIN EVENT MALACHI 💎 (@MaliDymond) March 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/thehalestone/status/1237156150618886149
Please, please, please stop using Kobe's death to make a case for LeBron as MVP. It's gross. https://t.co/Bje8TQFnoh
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) March 9, 2020
Didn’t want to really say anything but it’s been bothering me: LeBron James just outplayed Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo on both ends of the floor in back to back games, let’s stick to his basketball case about his MVP candidacy without invoking Kobe’s death, PLEASE
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) March 10, 2020
Lebron has been amazing without a doubt this season, but this is disgusting
In no way shape or form should Kobe death (or any non basketball reasons) should be used in a MVP discussion https://t.co/kUsqIWKuRj
— Devontae (@DevontaeD28) March 9, 2020
Im all on board for LeBron getting more talk for MVP. But mentioning the China conflict (he sided with the corrupt Chinese government), and Kobe’s death as part of his campaign for the award is pretty irrational.
Neither have anything to do with how valuable he is on the court. https://t.co/Bz0tn6Qx9Z
— Logan Miller (@Logan_Miller_3) March 10, 2020