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Sports Media Watch Podcast cover image

State of the NBA: Ratings, rights deals and media coverage

Sports Media Watch Podcast

NOTE

The Exceptional LeBron Era in the NBA

The NBA experienced an exceptional era during LeBron James' prime from 2009 to his brief shift to the Los Angeles Lakers. His prime was marked by extraordinary achievements including multiple MVP seasons, eight straight finals appearances with Cleveland and Miami, and a shift in NBA ratings. Despite success in LA with a title win and MVP-level performances, LeBron's prime was associated with Cleveland and Miami, making his move to LA seem out of place. This era marked an exception in NBA history, diverging from the norms established since Michael Jordan's retirement.

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Speaker 1
Well, I, you know, with all due respect to Steph Curry, I'm not going to credit the Warriors for that. The NBA, that was all LeBron's prime, right? That was the LeBron era as much as it was the Jordan era in the 90s. LeBron's prime begins in 2009, which is his first MVP season. It ends a very momentary sign to the Los Angeles Lakers. And in that nine year period of time, he makes a finals eight straight years with Cleveland and Miami, becomes the big villain of the NBA, going to Miami. And the ratings for that period of time are an exception to what has been the rules since Michael Jordan retired. That's really what we're talking about. The LeBron prime exception that the NBA is ultimately where it was in 2007 and 2002. And I do believe that that's true. And that LeBron going to LA was the end of his prime. And it was the end of his prime as a, that's not just as a player, maybe not even as a player. He won a title in LA. He had MVP quality seasons, but the storyline for LeBron was LeBron and Cleveland, his home, LeBron and Miami to prove he could win. No, what LeBron and LA, I still don't know why LeBron's in LA. It still doesn't fit. I think a lot of Laker fans will never accept him. I think the Laker organization has been very fortunate to have him because they haven't done anything since the death of Gary Bus.

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