More and more people believe LeBron James is the greatest player in NBA history these days. However, where he stands among the greatest players in Los Angeles Lakers history is a different story.
He has played just five seasons for the Purple and Gold, and while he led them to a world championship in 2020, plenty of other greats who have played for the team have done better than that.
Three legendary Lakers — Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant — each won five titles with the franchise. Shaquille O’Neal took home three while in L.A.
Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and O’Neal all have statues outside of Crypto.com Arena, and it is assumed the late Bryant will get one soon. It begs the question of whether James has already earned a statue of his own.
Hall of Famer James Worthy, who played alongside Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar for much of the 1980s and won three rings with them, chimed in.
Via TMZ:
“It depends on what he does here out,” Worthy said at the Teqball USA Pre-ESPY party. “Personally — and I think he’d agree — he hasn’t been here long enough.”
“But I think his overall greatness, when you have a player like LeBron, who breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (all-time scoring) record in Los Angeles, does it as a Laker, then wins a championship as a Laker, you can’t argue that he could get a statue in Los Angeles.”
Those who think James has already earned the right to become bronzed in Los Angeles may point out that Jerry West, who also won one title with the Lakers, and Elgin Baylor, who retired early in the season West won that ring, both have statues. However, West and Baylor put the team on the map right after it moved to Southern California in the years when locals took a while to warm up to pro basketball.
