Latest news with #ringculture
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11 hours ago
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Stephen A. Smith Calls Out LeBron James Following 'Ring Culture' Comments
Stephen A. Smith Calls Out LeBron James Following 'Ring Culture' Comments originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With the NBA Finals coming to an end soon, the league's offseason has begun for most teams, and players like LeBron James have been able to invest their time in other pursuits. Advertisement James has been able to host his podcast, Mind the Game, alongside NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash, as they break down various subjects related to basketball and discuss their ventures in the sport. One subject that LeBron James and Steve Nash discussed was the "ring culture." Nash asked the current Los Angeles Lakers superstar, "Why is 'ring culture' so much more prevalent in the NBA than in other sports?" James responded with a chuckle before breaking down his thoughts on the subject, saying, "I don't know where it started... We have to appreciate more of what guys have been able to accomplish. What guys have been able to do – a ring is a team accomplishment." Advertisement "I don't know where [ring culture] started, especially when it comes to me individually," James concluded on the subject. Over his 22-year career, LeBron James has racked up some of the most remarkable accomplishments in NBA history – including 21 All-Star selections and four MVP awards. But when it comes to championships, the conversations gets more complicated, with James have won four NBA titles. Well-known NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith had something to say on the situation while talking on First Take, and it might not be what LeBron James nor his fans want to hear. "If [winning a championship] didn't mean much or shouldn't mean much ... Why were you so relieved to finally have one? Why did you depart Cleveland to go to Miami?" Stephen A. Smith asked on Wednesday morning. The relationship between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James has been rocky in recent months. Advertisement Back in March, James confronted Smith following a Lakers game and spoke with him about the negative comments the analyst made about his son, fellow Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James – saying in a First Take episode in early 2025, "We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad." It looks like the relationship between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith is still declining after the analyst seemed to argue with the NBA icon on his latest comments. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
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LeBron James Says Ring Culture Is A Problem: "You're Telling Me Iverson, Barkley, And Nash Weren't F**** Unbelievable?"
LeBron James Says Ring Culture Is A Problem: "You're Telling Me Iverson, Barkley, And Nash Weren't F**** Unbelievable?" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Winning is everything in the NBA, and even the legacies of the greatest NBA superstars can be reduced to an afterthought in the eyes of the community. For LeBron James, this narrative is the wrong approach to have about NBA basketball and exemplifies everything that's wrong with NBA discourse. Advertisement "I don't know why it's discussed so much in our sport and why it's the end-all-be-all of everything," said James on the 'Mind the Game' podcast. "You tell me Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, and Steve Nash weren't f**** unbelievable? They can't be talked about with these guys because they won rings? It's like saying Peyton Manning can't be in the same room with Tom Brady or Mahomes because he only has one ring. They don't ever discuss that in their sport. Of telling me Dan Marino is not the greatest slinger of All-Time because he didn't win a championship., They don't discuss those things. Barry Bonds never won a World Series, and you can't sit here and tell me that he's not the greatest baseball player to ever touch a bat." There are countless examples throughout sports history of superstar athletes failing to meet expectations in the playoffs. The list includes baseball legends like Barry Bonds and former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. It also includes the NBA logo itself, Jerry West, who only won one championship despite nine trips with the Lakers. "Jerry West went to like nine straight NBA Finals and was only able to win one ring. And he's the logo of our league," said James. "So you can't sit here and tell me that, okay, because he only won one, the guy can't be in the same room with the guy who won two or three or four. Like, why not?" As a 4x NBA champion, LeBron has nothing left to prove as a player, and his legacy as a winner is already secured. As a 4x MVP, 21x All-Star, and 21x All-NBA player, he has already seen the ultimate success, and he knows what it takes to get there. Advertisement Sadly, the same cannot be said for most NBA players. Many spend their entire careers hoping to make a title run, and even some of the game's top performers (like Steve Nash, Charles Barkley, and Chris Paul) failed to capture that elusive Larry O'Brien trophy. Instead of discrediting their greatness or downplaying their achievements, LeBron wants to see the narrative shift. He believes that the game's top players should be celebrated and respected enough to look beyond the ring count. Unlike the MVP, statistical averages, or All-NBA selection, championships are not meant for individual recognition. Titles can only be won as a team, and many variables at play determine the outcome of a Finals series. For LeBron, what matters is whether the star can step up when it counts and come through for his team whenever they need it. Win or lose, a true superstar and leader will make their impact felt in many ways, and they deserve the proper recognition, even if they fail to ultimately win a title. Related: LeBron James Hints At Playing Longer Thanks To Encouragement From His Children This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
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LeBron James Has No Answer for NBA Championship Question
LeBron James Has No Answer for NBA Championship Question originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NBA discourse, especially in online spaces, has changed drastically in recent years. With the advent of the "superteam" in the 2010s, many conversations about the game's best players became centered on championships. The number of titles won soon became a barometer as to a player's overall standing in "greatest of all time" debates. Advertisement LeBron James felt this pressure when he decided to join the Miami Heat in 2010, teaming up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to form a "Big Three" in south Florida. James won two of his four career titles in Miami, which – alongside his minutes played and points scored records – have afforded him a privileged spot in "GOAT" talks. On the newest episode of his "Mind the Game" podcast, James and Steve Nash – an all-time great point guard who never played in the NBA Finals – tried to answer a fan question about the unique prevalence of "ring culture" in NBA discourse. But James, who won his most recent title five years ago, had no answer. Advertisement "I don't know why it's discussed so much in our sport, and why it's the end-all, be-all of everything. Like, you weren't a great player if you never won a championship," James said. James remarked that in other major sports leagues, like MLB or the NFL, "ring culture" has not impacted the esteem in which all-time great athletes like Barry Bonds, Peyton Manning, or Dan Marino are held. But Nash and Charles Barkley, who combined to play in one NBA Finals series amidst Hall of Fame careers, are not usually regarded as two of the greatest players of their generations. "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 said. "Barry Bonds never won a World Series, and you can't sit here and tell me that he's not the greatest baseball player to ever touch a bat." James warned of the dangers of "weird" ring culture as it continues to spiral, and how it threatens to reduce player legacies and the vitality of sports debate. Advertisement "We have to appreciate more of what guys have been able to accomplish," James said. "A ring is a team accomplishment. And if you happen to have a moment where you're able to share that with your team, that should be discussed. Trying to nitpick and individual because he was not able to win a team game, I don't know where it's started, it's just so weird." Related: Suns Make Feelings Clear to Bradley Beal Amid Kevin Durant Exit Rumors This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
