"LeBron has no chance to win another trophy so now they don't matter" - Colin Cowherd rips LeBron James for his take on NBA ring culture
"LeBron has no chance to win another trophy so now they don't matter" - Colin Cowherd rips LeBron James for his take on NBA ring culture originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Even though LeBron James isn't competing in the NBA Finals this season, he still managed to grab headlines when he discussed the league's infatuation with ring culture, stressing that the lack of NBA championships shouldn't diminish the accomplishments of the sport's all-time greats like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Karl Malone.
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Many analysts have pushed back against the narrative James is trying to promote. Among them is Colin Cowherd, who contends that a team's lack of championship prospects — like the Los Angeles Lakers' current situation — shouldn't diminish the importance of titles when evaluating a player's greatness.
The NBA's ring culture
For many, the number of championships an NBA superstar has won is the ultimate measure of success. Players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are often praised for their multiple title runs, while others who have yet to win a title are considered "less than" in the eyes of fans and analysts.
However, James recently argued on the "Mind The Game" podcast that this mindset is flawed, especially since basketball is a team sport wherein individual players cannot single-handedly win championships.
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Several all-time greats had incredible careers but were never able to capture an NBA title. Does this mean they should be disregarded when discussing the greatest players in NBA history?
"I don't know why it's discussed so much in our sport and why it's the end-all-be-all of everything," LeBron, who has won four championships in his 22-year career, said. "You tell me Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley and Steve Nash weren't f**king unbelievable? They can't be talked about with these guys because they won rings?"
However, Cowherd countered on his show that nobody is actually saying that those players weren't amazing players. However, there's a reason why they aren't discussed with the same reverence as champions.
"The reason is the trophies," Colin emphasized. "And LeBron knows that."
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Related: When Rick Fox turned down a $33 million deal from Boston only to take a million from the Lakers: "I bet on myself"
A lackluster Lakers team
Although LeBron has yet to officially declare what his plans are for his player option worth $52.6 million, many expect him to return to the Purple and Gold and play in his 23rd NBA season. Unfortunately for him, his team has far too many holes to fill to become a championship contender. Cowherd feels that's what prompted James to criticize the ring culture.
"LeBron has no chance to win a trophy with the current Laker roster," he said. "So now they don't matter. He spent his entire career pursuing titles. You think he went to Miami to land the beach? He went there for Riley and Spoelstra and a better owner and a better roster. He didn't go West. He stayed in the weak East to keep getting to finals. LeBron pursued finals."
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For years, James has pursued the ghost of Jordan, who went six-for-six in the NBA Finals. He went from one team to another, trying to add to his championship total. After winning the title in the Orlando Bubble in 2020, the farthest LeBron and the Lakers have come is the Western Conference finals in 2023. This season, they nabbed the third seed in the West but fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
"So back when he knew he had a chance to win several more, the ring mattered. Because he was still back then like, 'Hey, can he surpass Michael and get to six, seven, eight?'" Cowherd stated. "Now he can't. Now, rings don't matter."
James' resume speaks for itself. With numerous championships, countless entries in the league's record books and a longevity that has now spanned over two decades, it's clear that he is one of the greatest players to ever grace the hardwood. However, when all is said and done, he cannot escape the fact that he's two titles short of Jordan's six.
Related: "They are going to have to start to paying guys" - Doc Rivers breaks down why OKC won't be able to keep this team together
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
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