Statues are among the highest honors an NBA player can ever receive. Just last year, Dwyane Wade’s pride was on full display when his statue was unveiled outside the Kaseya Center in Miami, forever linking him to Heat history.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, whose legacy is built on decades of dominance, legendary players’ statues outside Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) are sacred territory. But now, one Lakers legend has made a bold claim that LeBron James shouldn’t be among those immortalized in Los Angeles.
Why Does Byron Scott Think LeBron James Has Not Done Enough to Get a Statue?
In a recent interview with “TMZ Sports”, former Lakers star and head coach Byron Scott was asked whether James deserves a statue in front of Crypto.com Arena if he were to capture another championship with the team.
Scott wasted no time with his response, directly answering, “No.” His reasoning? Most of the legends who currently have statues in front of the arena spent most of their careers with the Lakers and have built a legacy deeply tied to the franchise’s identity.
“No, no statue. One championship in six, seven years — I don’t know how many years he’s been in L.A. right now, but I think if he gets another one, then he has a chance. But right now, if you look at the players that have statues in front of the Crypto.com, these are long lifers,” Scott said during the interview.
Scott’s words hold weight when looking at the statues that already stand tall. Let’s see three, for example. Elgin Baylor, whose statue was unveiled in 2018, played all 14 of his NBA seasons with the Lakers. Though he fell short in eight Finals appearances, Baylor earned 11 All-Star selections and is remembered as one of the league’s most unstoppable scorers.
Jerry West, immortalized in 2011 and famously known as the “NBA logo,” also spent his entire 14-year career in purple and gold. He captured one championship in 1972 and was named Finals MVP in a losing effort in 1969.
Then there’s Magic Johnson, the face of Showtime basketball, who received the very first Lakers statue in 2004. Over 13 seasons, Johnson brought the franchise five championships, three MVPs, and global fame that redefined the game.
“They’ve been with the Lakers for almost their entire career, and they’ve had multiple championships. I think the only one that didn’t is probably Jerry West.”
“But other than that, Jerry West spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he’s the logo for a reason. So, right now at this particular point–and I’m a big LeBron James fan for what he’s been able to do on and off the court–but statue? No,” added Scott during the interview.
James Has Added Some Jewels to His Crown During His Short Lakers Stint
By contrast, James’ legacy is broader and more nomadic. He joined the Lakers on July 1, 2018, signing a four-year, $153.5 million contract after historic runs with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
Yet despite a shorter tenure compared to other Lakers legends, James has delivered historic moments in purple and gold. He led the team to a championship in 2020 during the COVID-19 bubble and also secured his fourth Finals MVP. Moreover, in 2023, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer wearing a Lakers uniform.
Just last season, he also became the first player in NBA history to score over 50,000 career points, further solidifying his standing as one of basketball’s all-time greats.
Still, Scott’s perspective highlights an undeniable truth that James hasn’t spent as much time in Los Angeles as Baylor, West, or Magic. But in today’s era, where popularity and global influence carry immense weight, it’s hard to imagine the King not eventually receiving a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
Thank you, Byron. What I’ve been trying to tell people, but you put it much more succinctly than I could.