Ric Bucher has refused to acknowledge LeBron James as a Lakers all-time great. He insisted that a player must have 10 years of service with the franchise and three championships to be considered. And James’ former teammate, Lou Williams wasted no time in pushing back the Fox Sports analyst’s ‘ridiculous’ stipulations, citing none other than Shaquille O’Neal.
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Williams’ comments came after Bucher presented his yardstick on Fox Sports’ SPEAK. LBJ has spent seven years with the franchise and led LA to their 17th title in 2020. But with Bucher’s requirements, the King doesn’t make the cut.
Williams sifted through other Laker legends who wouldn’t feature in the list of greats compiled, keeping Bucher’s standards in mind. O’Neal will not make it, while Kobe Bryant’s anointment as a Lakers great in the early 2000s would be rendered premature. Ridiculous is an understatement while describing the requirements, and Williams’ words reflected that sentiment.
“By that logic, Shaq wouldn’t have been an all-time great,” Williams said. “He only played eight years with the Lakers. Did get championships out of it, but he falls short in your time commitment part of that argument.”
The former Sixth Man of the Year also brought Bryant into the conversation. The Mamba was viewed as a Laker legend by the time the team finished its three-peat in 2002. But according to Bucher’s logic, Kobe should have been accorded that tag a few years later.
“If that’s the case, by 2005, are we saying Kobe Bryant wouldn’t have been a Lakers all-time great?” Williams questioned. “It’s a ridiculous argument.”
The former guard believes it’s reasonable to require a decade of service or multiple championships. But combining the two requirements is perhaps a bit too much.
LeBron is set to be remembered as a Lakers legend
LeBron has already accomplished more with the Los Angeles Lakers than most players do throughout their entire careers. It’s hard to believe, but James has been in L.A. nearly as long as his Miami tenure and second Cleveland stint combined.
LeBron has already matched the number of seasons he played during his first run with Cleveland. However, Bucher’s criteria for becoming a legend with the Lakers is much stricter than it is in Miami or Cleveland.
With seven All-Star appearances, five All-NBA nominations, and an NBA Championship, James would be considered a legend for the majority of the NBA’s other franchises.
Still looking spry at the age of 40, LeBron could still have some magic left in the tank to solidify himself as a Lakers great. Even if he were to retire after this season, the future Hall of Famer has already done enough for the franchise to warrant serious consideration.
