No one denies that LeBron James is one of the most important and historic basketball players of all time, but is he an all-time Los Angeles Lakers great?
This is a debate that has been raging in the fanbase for years.
Yes, he helped the team win a championship and is one of the biggest stars to ever suit up in purple and gold, but is he the sort of star who will get a statue in front of Crypto.com Arena someday?
During an appearance on “Speak,” Ric Bucher made it clear that he doesn’t think so.
He said that James is not an all-time Lakers great.
To earn that title, he would need to give 10 years of service and at least three championships.
Even Paul Pierce, a historic Lakers rival, seemed a bit shocked by Bucher’s opinion.
Ric Bucher says you need 10 years of service and 3 championships to be considered a Lakers great
“LeBron isn’t an all-time Lakers great.”
(🎥 @SpeakOnFS1 )
pic.twitter.com/uqrMdxIzNE
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 7, 2025
James has been the most important player for the Lakers since he came to them in 2018.
He helped lead them to a Finals win and has been the team’s constant leader.
But that doesn’t mean he should be considered a Lakers great.
Yes, he has done so many major things throughout his career: four MVPs, four championships, and 21 All-Star selections, just to name a few.
But he has only won a single title with the Lakers and has also been with the team during some dark times.
He is a legend of the game, but some people feel he isn’t a legend of the team like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and others.
This is a debate that will only heat up after James retires and his final impact on the Lakers can be evaluated.
This won’t be the last time analysts argue about James and his place in Lakers history.
NEXT: Fans React To Lakers’ 8-Game Winning Streak
