LeBron James is scripting an incredible legacy in the NBA. He has spent over twenty years in the league and retired atop as many all-time charts as he can. Despite that, the one incontrovertible fact he can’t change in the regular season is that he’s only won four championships. That’s the same number as Stephen Curry, who beat LeBron in the Finals for three of his titles.
With both legends tied at four titles, Matt Barnes posed an interesting question on ‘All The Smoke’ podcast with Geno Davis. He wondered aloud how LeBron’s legacy would be affected if Curry won another title and surpassed James’ total ring count.
Matt Barnes: “If Steph gets another ring during LeBron’s watch, what does it do to the hierarchy of the game?”
Geno Davis: “I don’t care how many rings Steph gets, this man has 50K (points). Regardless of how many rings Steph gets above him, they’re building a whole new section of the Hall of Fame for LeBron.”
Matt Barnes: “I wouldn’t say it wrecks it. But remember, like, the talk has always been—who got it on your watch, right? Who got it on MJ’s watch? Who got it on Kobe and Shaq’s watch? Now, who’s getting it on LeBron’s watch? If Steph somehow walks away with five rings and LeBron walks away with four, does that strengthen anyone’s argument against LeBron’s greatness?”
Geno Davis: “Yes. And I only say that because how could you let someone get more rings than you on your watch when you’re supposed to be the guy?”
Matt Barnes: “And a guy that stayed in the same spot—Golden State—the whole time,” Matt chimed in.
Geno Davis: “I don’t think they’ll ever let Steph move around LeBron, even though they say that he’s been the guy that changed the game so much. I don’t care how many rings he gets.”
This is a very interesting question. LeBron’s accomplishments and statistics are unquestionable. People who have watched him play know what his prime was and his numbers are genuinely unmatchable. So if Curry wins more titles as LeBron’s contemporary despite a smaller body of work, would that make him a greater player?
LeBron has averaged 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists over his career as a four-time champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time regular-season MVP, 21-time All-Star, 20-time All-NBA selection, and six-time All-Defensive Selection.
Curry has averaged 24.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists over his career, becoming a four-time NBA Champion, one-time Finals MVP, two-time regular season MVP, 11-time All-Star, and 10-time All-NBA selection.
Titles are one thing but Finals MVPs are also an important measuring stick. Michael Jordan has never had a teammate beat him to Finals MVP, LeBron James has never had a teammate beat him to Finals MVP, but Curry has lost out for three of his four titles.
Even Shaquille O’Neal won three Finals MVPs despite having Kobe Bryant next to him. If Curry does cross LeBron in the ring count, the ardent defenders of James will remind everyone that Curry was never considered responsible for his team winning a title as many times as James was.
Even with their tied ring count, everyone understands that James is naturally higher on the pantheon of all-time greats. Curry’s winning another ring will bring him closer to LeBron but not surpass him. It will also bring LeBron further away from Michael Jordan, making LeBron and Curry the co-faces of the last twenty years in terms of appeal and accomplishments.
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