LeBron James has crafted one of the most iconic careers in NBA history, rising from a prodigy with the Cleveland Cavaliers to a champion with the Miami Heat and a seasoned leader with the Los Angeles Lakers. Still, not everyone views him with the same mythical reverence. Former teammate and Lakers’ champion Danny Green recently explained why the four-time MVP has not fully captured that legendary aura from some former NBA players.
“I think social media’s kind of ruined that for a lot of bigger guys, because I feel like that aura, I saw it a lot earlier on. Like when he was in Cleveland, he was a rock star, by the time he got to LA, when he was in Miami, I feel like they had so much access to him. They see him all the time, they see him on social media, they see him in the clubs or doing parties. People didn’t idolize him as much, and they criticized him, like we’re able to criticize those top guys even more because of social media,” affirmed Danny Green on the All the Smoke podcast.
Danny Green shared the court with LeBron James twice. First, during the 2009-10 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then again in 2019-20 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Because of that, he knows LeBron well and up close. Green does not question LeBron’s aura or legendary status. However, constant media exposure changes how fans see him.
Still, LeBron James’ legacy remains undeniable. He has played 1,562 NBA games and continues to break records. He leads the league in all-time points with 42,184. Besides, the Lakers veteran holds the record for the most 20+ point games in league history. On top of that, he made history with three franchises: the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers. Few players can match that kind of impact across multiple teams.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his basket with Danny Green #14 during a 113-103 Laker win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center on March 06, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Ex-Lakers player Danny Green drops bold take on franchise’s championship hopes
Luka Doncic joined the Los Angeles Lakers, and expectations soared. Fans and analysts quickly called them title contenders. They believed his arrival would elevate the team to championship level. However, the season took a different turn. In the playoffs, the Lakers lost early to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
see also
Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe drops bold take on Lakers star’s future amid trade speculations
As a result, doubts grew about the team’s ability to compete at the highest level. Former Lakers player Danny Green addressed those concerns. He delivered a blunt statement about the roster’s slim chances of winning a title.
“I think they’re explosive offensively. I think they lack a lot defensively… I don’t know how many years he (James) has left longer, and it’s think it’s just really hard to win a championship when your best player is 40 years old… Next year LeBron going to be 41….He can still average 30, 20 something but I just don’t see them winning a championship with that formula right now,” stated Danny Green on All The Smoke podcast.
