The Philadelphia 76ers won the LeBron James bidding war, and that is the main reason why they are now considered the definitive title favorites for next season. However, it appears that one of the interested parties from the sweepstakes might not have fully come to terms with the superstar's decision. At the very least, that is what can be gleaned from Bam Adebayo's latest snub.
Adebayo recently bared his top-five all-time player list, and James was notably excluded. The Heat star included Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, and Tim Duncan in his list, but LeBron was left without a mention. That prompted mixed reactions from fans online. Well, that omission is definitely a loud one, especially considering that Miami was in the mix for James before the megastar chose Philly.
Bam Adebayo snubs LeBron in his top-five players of all time list
Part and parcel of what made LeBron's decision to head to Philadelphia quite surprising is the fact that Cleveland and Miami, the King's previous teams where he won a championship with, were widely reckoned as the most likely landing spots for him. Instead, James trumped all expectations and chose the 76ers on the strength of their recalibrated, title-ready roster.
While the 76ers have had the flashiest offseason among all teams, the Heat are not to be glossed over. After all, after years of striking out, Pat Riley and his crew were finally able to land a new superstar, pulling off a blockbuster trade for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with Adebayo.
Still, the Heat basically gutted their roster to acquire the former Bucks star. That is unlike the 76ers, who were still able to fill out the roster with heady acquisitions without breaking the bank, thanks to Mike Gansey and the new front office finding ways to be more resourceful with their money and more opportunistic in the open market.
Now, Adebayo previously clarified that he has no issues with LeBron choosing the 76ers and spurning the Heat in the process, but these all-time player lists have a limit to them being subjective. James is simply someone who cannot be left out in these things, so this omission by the All-Star big man definitely seems personal.
Well, there is no other way to settle the dust but to let the game do the talking. The 76ers and the Heat will surely duke it out hard for supremacy in the East next season, and at that point, LeBron has an opportunity to prove to Adebayo that he made the right call.
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