NBA “super teams” have become a typical sight in this modern basketball era.
Whether it’s the Nets, Warriors, Cavs, or now the Lakers, star players stacking the deck and steaming up has become a popular trend.
Funnily enough, many fans, media members, and former players seem disgruntled by this trend and actively hold it against stars. Charles Barkley, for example, holds this philosophy closely and recently used it against LeBron James in the GOAT conversation.
LeBron is amazing. What he’s done in the community is amazing. In fairness, I wouldn’t even put LeBron past Kobe, let’s get that out of the way. I want to be fair. The reason I put Michael up there, above those other guys. LeBron has stacked his teams, let’s be realistic.
Obviously, LeBron isn’t shy about recruiting other top-tier stars to come play with him. But should it really be held against him?
According to Bron’s former teammate, Richard Jefferson, it shouldn’t.
“In all fairness Chuck is right. LeBron didn’t get drafted to a team with Shaq like Kobe. Cavs never found the Pippen in Bron’s first 8 years because he was too good they never drafted that high. Ps… Charles got drafted to a team with Dr.J, Moses Malone and 2 other Hall of Famers. I see his point though.”
Jefferson’s point is that “super teams” are not just connected to LeBron. In fact, a lot of All-Time great players who have won titles have done so with what can be considered (in loose terms) a super squad.
Jordan had Pippen and Rodman. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Duncan had Parker, Ginobili, and even Kawhi Leonard towards the end.
Unlike MJ and Magic, however, he actively built his own teams. He has jumped ship multiple times to start fresh and goes out of his way to add a ridiculous amount of talent to the roster.
Whatever the case, Super Teams will always be a matter of debate, and LeBron probably knows that now more than anyone.
