Shaquille O’Neal, a legendary figure in the NBA, has shared his skepticism regarding LeBron James’ ability to surpass the accomplishments of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Despite James’ enduring brilliance in his 21st season, O’Neal questions whether the LA Lakers superstar can secure his fifth NBA title and second with the Lakers this year.
Shaquille O’Neal Casts Doubt on LeBron James Catching Up to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
Recently, O’Neal was asked about the Lakers’ struggles early in the season. Despite their championship aspirations, the team currently sits seventh in the Western Conference with a 9-7 record after 16 games. O’Neal attributes these challenges to age, injuries, and the heightened competition in the league.
“The injuries, the age, they are already old, the competition is very tough in the NBA, and there are teams like the Phoenix Suns or the Golden State Warriors that are very tough,” O’Neal observed.
While James aims to win at least one more title before retiring, which would tie him with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s five titles and bring him closer to Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan’s six titles, O’Neal believes that accomplishing this feat will be arduous.
“They already won the title in the bubble, and LeBron, he wants to win one more to tie Kobe Bryant and get closer to Michael Jordan. But achieving it will be very difficult,” O’Neal expressed.
At 15 games into the season, James has been delivering impressive performances, averaging 25.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 2.4 three-pointers per game on 57.8% shooting. However, with the forthcoming celebration of his 39th birthday, James holds the distinction of being the NBA’s oldest player, raising questions about how long he can maintain his current level of play.
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As time progresses, the 2024 season may represent James’ best opportunity to secure his fifth title. However, O’Neal’s reservations about the challenges James faces in surpassing the legacies of Jordan and Bryant serve as a reminder of the monumental task ahead for the Lakers superstar.