Days after LeBron James’ comments about ring culture, many people have come out of the woodwork to voice their opinion. Hall-of-Fame forward Paul Pierce is the latest to join the conversation. Instead of siding with the 21-time All-Star, he pointed out some flaws in his comments.
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It isn’t rocket science as to why James would grow frustrated with the narratives surrounding ring culture. After all, he has been the punching bag of the media and fans throughout his career. In a recent episode of his Mind the Game podcast, James didn’t shy away from criticizing the talk about championships.
“I don’t understand where it came from, I don’t know where it started. We have to appreciate more of what guys have been able to accomplish,” James said.
James’ take didn’t land kindly on the ears of NBA experts. Stephen A. Smith was the first person to voice his disagreement with James’ comments. Pierce shares the same sentiment as Smith, questioning the validity of the four-time champion’s claims surrounding the topic.
“As a kid, you play to win, and you were always measured on how much you won. Sports will always be that way,” Pierce said on Fox Sports’ Speak. “I remember LeBron left Cleveland to chase rings in Miami. Wasn’t that about trying to get a ring? He was trying to fulfil his legacy.”
If a ring wasn’t at the forefront of LeBron’s mind, he wouldn’t have signed with the Heat. The decision to leave Cleveland was to put himself in a better situation to win a championship. Kevin Durant did the same thing when he signed with the Golden State Warriors.
The purpose of competing is to win at the highest level. Money and fame could be the motivation for many athletes, but nobody is okay with losing time and time again. As a result, Pierce believes James has to be held accountable for his contradictory actions.
“It’s kind of hypocritical for LeBron to say this, being that he went to Miami, then back to Cleveland, and then to LA in search of rings,” Pierce proclaimed.
As long as one admits it, there is no shame in hunting for championships. In LeBron’s case, he will never be clinging to a team for the ride. He has always been a prominent figure in each championship roster he has been a part of, as proven by his four Finals MVPs.
Unfortunately, James has grown accustomed to the criticism. Pierce isn’t the first person to call him out, and he certainly won’t be the last.
