Byron Scott Explains Why LeBron James Doesn't Deserve Lakers Statue in LA Yet in Video
One championship isn't enough to warrant immortalizing LeBron James in bronze outside of Crypto.com Arena in the view of Los Angeles Lakers legend Byron Scott.
"I think if he gets another one, then he has a chance," Scott told TMZ Sports. "But right now, if you look at the players that have statues in front of Crypto.com [Arena], these are long lifers. They've been with the Lakers for almost their entire career, and they've had multiple championships. I think the only one who didn't is probably Jerry West."
It's safe to say James is a consensus top-five player all time in the NBA, and a lot of people have him second to only Michael Jordan. Between that and the fact his second-longest stint is in Los Angeles, the franchise might be tempted to construct a statue in his honor.
Scott makes a compelling case against the idea, though.
When Pat Riley's statue goes up in February, he'll be the eighth person to receive the distinction. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Jerry West earned the privilege as players, and legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn got a monument too.
Riley coached the Lakers to four championships. Abdul-Jabbar, Bryant, Johnson and O'Neal all won multiple rings in Southern California. West lifted a title in 1972 and was the NBA Finals MVP when Los Angeles came up short against the Boston Celtics in 1969. Baylor never won it all but spent his entire 14-year career with the Lakers and ranks fourth in franchise history in scoring.
James doesn't really stack up when looking only at his time in purple and gold. Should he help to hang another banner before he retires, the conversation becomes a little different.
