LeBron James has criticized the discourse around “ring culture” in the NBA, saying a championship is a team accomplishment. He pushed back on the idea that individual greatness is measured by how many championships a player wins.
James, a four-time NBA MVP and leading career scorer, has won four championships and reached the NBA Finals 10 times in his 22-year career. Discussing ring culture often dismisses achievements of players who didn’t win a title, James said.
He cited examples of all-time greats like Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley, who were “unbelievable” but not compared to those with championships. James believes the conversation is misguided, comparing it to other sports where all-time greats are not held to the same standard.
“A ring is a team accomplishment,” James said. He hopes players will be appreciated for their individual accomplishments and the success of their teams.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45538297/lebron-james-bemoans-ring-culture-nba-never-enough