In the NBA, there is a longstanding bias for teams in large markets. This is nothing new - the Lakers and Celtics have been the league’s darlings for decades. It is no surprise when an unproven rookie in Los Angeles gets more mainstream media coverage than a mid-level star in a small-to-mid-size market.
This bias manifests itself in several ways, but one of the most glaring is when a talented player worthy of recognition is denied fair coverage due to the team he plays on. It is an unfortunate reality of life in the NBA.