From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, there has been a significant change in the NBA. This includes the players and how the perception towards the league has altered.
James, who has been a part of the league for over two decades, has seen the tide change.
On a new episode of the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with Hall of Famer Steve Nash, the Los Angeles Lakers icon discussed this change and how ‘ring culture’ has affected the NBA.
LeBron James Calls Out ‘Ring Culture’ in the NBA
Ring culture — as mentioned earlier — is a measure of greatness in the league based on how many NBA championships a player has won.
James, with four titles to his name, is one of the greatest ever to play.
Irrespective of the championships he’s won, James wasn’t in agreement with ‘ring culture’, dismissing it while referring to it as ‘weird’.
“I don’t know why it’s discussed so much in our sport,” James said on the podcast. “And why it’s the end-all, be-all of everything. It’s like, ‘you weren’t a great player if you never won a championship.’ Or if you won one, then you can’t be in the same conversation as this person.”
The Los Angeles Lakers icon further named-dropped NBA legends who haven’t won a title.
“You sit here and tell me Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, and Steve Nash wasn’t unbelievable? ‘Oh, they can’t be talked about or discussed with these guys because this guy won [….] It’s just weird to me. It’s like saying Peyton Manning can’t be in the same room with [Tom] Brady or [Patrick] Mahomes because he only has one ring,” James added.
James Reveals Best Defenders He’s Faced in the NBA
During the same podcast, James spoke about the greatest he’s ever played — the answer prompted by a fan question.
James named 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Metta Sandiford-Artest as his pick, formerly called Ron Artest.
“Ron Artest, ah, man, really good with his hands, laterally was really good, strong as an ox,” James said (timestamp: 4:48). “We played him in my early years when he was in Indiana. It was challenging for sure. One of the best defenders, probably, I’ve played against.”
James referred to Sandiford-Artest’s dominant peak with the Indiana Pacers, something which Nash related to. However, James’ co-host refused to name one player himself, talking about how NBA defense has evolved over the years.
However, James has performed statistically well against Sandiford-Artest head-to-head. His teams won 13-8 during their 21 matchups, James averaging 26.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Though many continue to wait for James’ impending retirement, there’s no denying his athletic brilliance. The Lakers star continues to play at a higher level, probably waiting for a few more seasons with a legit shot at a fifth title.
