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Stephen A. Smith gave voice to these insinuations, suggesting that both Shadur and his father played roles in his fall from grace in the draft boards. This assertion has ignited a firestorm of retorts - especially from those who believe the underlying currents of race, talent perception, and media portrayal all factor into how a player is viewed by teams.
The Factor of Talent Versus Perception
As discussions evolved to dissect Shadur's draft position, it became increasingly clear that any probability of collusion or unfair bias in the league required examination through various lenses. The crux of the argument stems from the belief that if Shadur had been "undeniable”—as Kobe Bryant once put it—he would have bypassed these issues entirely.