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See the full story · 1 sources'Nasty Work' -- NBA World Pushes Back on Shaquille O'Neal's Factually Inaccurate Dig at LeBron James' Lakers Legacy
LeBron James’ eight-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers helped the franchise accomplish what it had hoped for when it brought the superstar to LA.
However, former Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal does not seem completely convinced by James’ legacy with the Lakers, drawing backlash from fans.
Shaquille O’Neal’s LeBron James Take Has Lakers Fans Absolutely Furious
James’ eight seasons with the Lakers marked the longest uninterrupted stretch he had spent with any NBA team.
Before joining the Philadelphia 76ers, James informed the Lakers that he would not return for the upcoming season, bringing his eight-year run in Los Angeles to an end.
Critics attacked James for choosing the 76ers in what they viewed as another attempt at “ring chasing,” but O’Neal rejected that narrative, stating that the 41-year-old helped restore the Lakers to prominence.
“The man is not chasing rings. The man has already gotten rings the right way,” O’Neal told FTW and USA TODAY Sports.
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However, Shaq made it clear that he views James differently when comparing him with the franchise’s most iconic players.
According to O’Neal, the Lakers’ legacy is measured by championship banners. While winning one title puts the league’s all-time leading scorer among the franchise’s legends, Shaq believes James has not reached the highest tier.
“The good thing for LeBron, he did win one,” Shaq said . “But you know, Kareem got six, Magic got five, Kobe got five, I got four, Rambis got three. So you know, he’s at the party, but he’s not on stage.”
The four-time MVP became a franchise figure for the Lakers upon joining the team, which had missed the playoffs for five straight seasons . James eventually delivered an NBA championship in 2020, ending the Lakers’ decade-long title drought.
However, Shaq believes that when James’ Lakers tenure is compared with other franchise icons, winning just one championship falls short of the multi-title standard usually associated with the franchise’s greatest players.
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O’Neal’s blunt assessment of James’ Lakers legacy quickly drew the ire of fans, who saw it as an inaccurate and unfair take.
“Why is he claiming 4 and Kareem 6 when they didn’t win all those with the Lakers but only Brons 1 lmfaoo,” a comment read .
“Shaq throwing Rambis in there over Worthy and Cooper is nasty work,” one fan wrote .
“To be accurate, with the Lakers Kareem has 5, and Shaq has 3,” a user added .
“We won with 3 diff franchises, we don’t care who you consider a Lakers great, you never accepted us to begin with…” a fan chimed in .
“Shaq counting rings like he didn’t need Kobe to even get invited. LeBron dragged a dumpster fire to a title and still got disrespected. Lakers “legends” are just guys who inherited better rosters,” another comment read .
“No one says LeBron is the best Laker ever. People compare total careers,” another fan commented .
James maintained All-NBA-level production throughout much of his tenure with the Lakers.
Wearing the gold and purple, the 41-year-old surpassed Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
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