Chris Broussard is all for LeBron James setting the narrative around his career, much like the great Muhammad Ali once did.
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LeBron James talked up Stephen Curry as the NBA’s MVP this season while noting the difficulty of the Lakers’ task in playing the Warriors in the play in game.
This is an answer that has prompted quite a few talking heads to wonder about his intentions aloud. James has made a reputation by making many self-promoting statements, and a few people interpret this to be one such case.
Molly Qerim came out and questioned his motives on First Take yesterday. Chris Broussard joined in on this with another angle, linking Muhammad Ali to the Lakers star.
Chris Broussard compares LeBron James to Muhammad Ali
Broussard thinks this is normal James behavior – talking his opponents up before beating them. He also says this is the same thing as talking himself up before contests, like in the 2015 Finals:
“Whenever the basketball world is focused elsewhere. Whenever it feels like, oh there’s somebody surpassing LeBron and they’re gonna better LeBron, he will come out and remind you that ‘I’m the man’.”
“Right now, Nikola Jokic is going to be the MVP. There’s a lot of focus on Steph Curry, so LeBron had to come out and remind people ‘I am the man’. Remember 2015, when the Cavs just lost Game 5 to the Golden State Warriors?”
“He comes out and says to everyone ‘I’m the best player in the world’. It’s just that simple. He wanted to make a statement ‘Yeah, they might win the series, but no ifs ands or buts about it, I am still the best player on the planet.'”
“But I’m not mad at LeBron. We loved Muhammad Ali, one of the reasons we loved him was because he always declared ‘I’m the greatest. I’m the best.’ If Ali could do it, I’m fine with LeBron doing it. No problems here.”
