In a recent episode of “First Take” on ESPN, Shannon Sharpe made his opinion, and fandom, clearly known by saying that LeBron James is one of the most undervalued players in the NBA today.
He continued, saying that if he had to pick another player who might be more undervalued than James, he would say Jayson Tatum. Stephen A. Smith, never one to hold back an opinion, responded by saying that Shannon’s comments made him “want to throw up.”
Shannon Sharpe Says LeBron James Is Still a Top 10 Player
Sharpe remarked during his monologue, “I still believe LeBron is a top 10 player. What he’s asked to do at the age of 40 on a nightly basis, before they got Luka [Dončić], it’s just hard for me to say that there’s somebody that’s more undervalued.”
Smith promptly responded, saying, “You saying that LeBron is the most disrespected player, that made me want to throw up … that is absolutely asinine.”
Sharpe continued by loudly exclaiming, “In the history [of the NBA].”
While Sharpe has been known as a staunch defender of James in his time as an analyst, does he have a point? Since coming into the league at the age of 18, James has been nothing short of spectacular. As Father Time edges ever closer, though, have fans and media alike been too quick to forget The King?
James is averaging 24.7 points, 8.8 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting over 51% from the field. Is he being overlooked in today’s game?
For those who think that Sharpe is overstepping with his claim that James is the most undervalued player in the NBA today, let’s evaluate his second argument.
Tatum is coming off his first NBA championship and is having one of the best years of his career. Averaging 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and a career-high 5.7 assists per game is nothing short of spectacular, so why is he so overlooked?
Some people might say it’s because of his alleged super team. Others may say that it doesn’t matter because he hasn’t been able to perform when it matters most. Regardless, it is undeniable that both James and Tatum are putting up impressive numbers this season.
While Smith’s response might have been warranted to some, does Sharpe have a point? Are James and Tatum undervalued stars? Their performances indicate this season that they are deserving of respect, it all matters where public opinion is relative to their output.
