What’s it like to step on the court next to LeBron James? For fans, it’s hard to grasp the pressure and expectations that come with being his teammate.
Over the years, James has played for three NBA franchises and alongside hundreds of other professional athletes. However, none of them have truly gone into great detail regarding the challenges that accompany playing alongside the four-time NBA champion.
Danny Green, a former NBA vet who played for six teams and won three titles — including one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 — offered some clarity on a May 29 episode of the “All the Smoke” podcast.
Danny Green Attacks LeBron James’ Fans for Inciting Pressure
When people talk about the pressure of being James’ teammate, they usually assume it’s James who creates that weight. And sure, the future Hall of Famer has high expectations. But Green said it’s actually the fans, not James, who apply the pressure on the team and the players.
“He made the game very easy. But there were also times when it wasn’t as easy, because there’s so much pressure — even if you’re wide open — to execute the play. And that’s because you’re playing with LeBron James,” Green said. “That pressure is more from the outside than from the inside because Bron ain’t putting that pressure on you.”
Green concluded that playing alongside James was a double-edged sword: “But all the LeBron fans are like, ‘Who’s this bum? Why is he playing with Bron?’ You know what I’m saying? So, it’s a gift and a curse. But he made the game easy, man. It was a lot of fun learning from him early on, a lot of fun playing against him, and even better to play with him.”
The narrative that James reaps all the credit for his team’s success and his teammates hold all the responsibility for their failure has been promoted frequently over the years. Fans only need to take a look back at his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers to see this better.
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James has usually been credited with “carrying” teams to the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, very few of his teammates have truly been acknowledged for their accomplishments in the past.
Green’s words might cause fans to rethink how they judge James’ teammates. With Luka Dončić now by his side, maybe today’s Lakers won’t face the same harsh treatment.
