Byron Scott knows what it means to be a Los Angeles Laker. A three-time champion during the Showtime era, Scott understands the weight of legacy in Los Angeles better than most. That’s why, when asked by TMZ about the idea of LeBron James getting a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, he didn’t hesitate to pump the brakes.
“No. No, no statue. One championship in six, seven years, I don’t know how many years he’s been in L.A. right now, but I think if he gets another one, then he has a chance.”
“But right now, if you look at the players that have statues in front of the Crypto.com, 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 that didn’t is probably Jerry West. But other than that, Jerry West spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he’s the logo for a reason. So, right now at this particular point, I’m a big LeBron James fan for what he’s been able to do on and off the court, but a statue? No.”
Scott acknowledged Jerry West as the lone exception, but even then, West spent his entire playing career with the Lakers and remains the literal face of the NBA as the league’s logo. For Scott, LeBron’s contributions, while remarkable, don’t yet stack up against the franchise’s giants.
Normally, the notion of LeBron James not getting a statue anywhere would sound absurd. He’s widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, a four-time champion, four-time MVP, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. In Cleveland or Miami, there would be no debate. But in Los Angeles, the bar is different.
This is the franchise of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Jerry West. Between them, those names account for decades of loyalty and a mountain of championships.
The Lakers have 17 banners hanging from the rafters. One bubble title in 2020, as meaningful as it was, doesn’t automatically grant you bronze immortality outside the arena.
Scott’s argument is simple: LeBron needs at least one more championship as a Laker to truly cement his place alongside those names in statue form.
LeBron enters the 2025–26 season in the final year of his contract with no extension talks on the horizon. The Lakers want him to retire in purple and gold on his terms, but time is running short.
At 40 years old, he’s still performing at a top-10 level, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season. But the window to add another ring is narrowing.
This time, he won’t be chasing it alongside Anthony Davis, who is now in Dallas. Instead, LeBron’s partner is Luka Doncic, who is entering his prime and has quickly embraced the role of co-star in Los Angeles. Together, the duo gives the Lakers a chance, but in a stacked Western Conference, chances don’t come easy.
LeBron’s resume already ensures his place in basketball immortality. The question is whether his chapter in Lakers history is one of greatness or true legend. Byron Scott’s stance reflects the franchise’s unforgiving standards, where good isn’t enough, and even great sometimes falls short.
If LeBron can capture another ring in Los Angeles, the statue debate will end. Until then, Scott’s words ring true: in Lakerland, banners and statues are earned the hard way.
