Why are young players in their first, second or third year getting called busts so fast nowadays? I'm seeing both NBA and NFL fans writing off young players even when they have shown flashes of their potential.
Is this just a social media thing? People getting tired of all the hyped up draft prospects? What changed?
The actual reason: LeBron.
He exceeded any expectations we actually had but failed our imaginations.
The media needs a story for us to follow but also something for our imagination to hope for, so they sell us dreams told through talented individuals. To be first and to be right is the goal. Of course there’s pushback when the results aren’t immediate even though we all know
1) it takes time to adapt
2) it’s incredibly difficult to get there
3) it’s incredibly difficult to stay
4) they have to develop to their potential, which can not be quantified
People don’t like the feeling of being sold a false bill of goods, so we put those expectations directly back on them. With famous artists who die young, we love to talk about what they could have been. Meanwhile, we get to see these athletes as who they are right now. And it doesn’t fulfill that promise.
Also, it’s fun to some, and others thrive off negativity.