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With LeBron James agreeing to a two-year contract extension with the LA Lakers, he is guaranteed to stay with the team for the next two seasons. The contract also offers him a one-year player option for the 2024-25 NBA season.
James' Lakers legacy has always been a topic of discussion among NBA analysts and fans, and on ESPN's "First Take" Stephen A. Smith and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo debated his influence on the team.
Smith was of the opinion that James would not get a statue outside the Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as Staples Center. He stated that the Lakers forward has not put in as much time and effort as some of the former Lakers players had.
Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant spent more time in LA and won more championships for the city than James has so far. Smith said that James would have to be in LA for a while longer to achieve a similar status.
"LeBron James is not getting a statue outside of the Staples," Smith said. "You got to be there for a while. You can't just get statues outside of the Staples Center. You didn't put in the time Magic, and Kareem, and Kobe, and them put in as a Laker, in the purple and gold. No, you've been a mercenary."
Stephen A. Smith believes LeBron James is a top-3 player in NBA history
"King James" has spent most of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but has won half of his four NBA titles with the Miami Heat. His time with the LA Lakers has seen him win one ring, with hopes of adding a few more in the upcoming seasons.
James has remained a dominant force since joining the league in 2003. With four championships, four regular-season MVPs and four Finals MVPs, he has solidified himself as an all-time great.
Stephen A. Smith has pegged James as one of the top-3 players in NBA history. He feels James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are neck-and-neck with one another and trail only Michael Jordan on the all-time list. He said:
"In terms of where he is gonna be at. I'll tell you where he is easily gonna be. LeBron James is top-3 player in the history of basketball. Top 3. ... Kareem, Jordan and LeBron."
With a few solid years still left in James' career, it remains to be seen if he can elevate himself to the top position in the eyes of those who doubt him.
