Hall of Famer and “Inside the NBA” analyst Charles Barkley praised Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as one of the greatest players in basketball history, but singled out what he dislikes most about the ongoing debate over James’ legacy.
“That’s the only thing I hate about LeBron,” Barkley said recently on “The Bill Simmons” Podcast. “First of all, he’s a great, great player. He’s an amazing person, really nice guy. But for him and his guys, if you don’t say he’s the greatest ever, it’s like you committing treason. …They’re like, if you don’t say he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, they hate you. And it’s really sad.”
Nike Commercial Sparks Controversy
The remarks come as James drew renewed attention following a new Nike commercial that dubbed him the “Forever King.”
“They called him the Chosen One,” the ad begins. “He carried the weight of every expectation on his shoulders, but he never broke. We were all witnesses. Every rival was defeated. Every idol was destroyed. He took the crown and kept it. Behold the greatness, he is the Forever King.”
The commercial sparked mixed reactions. Bleacher Report writer Andy Bailey called it “one of the wildest ads you will ever see,” while some fans criticized the line “every idol was destroyed,” pointing to James’ losses to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in three NBA Finals, two of those with Kevin Durant and his earlier losses to Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan and a young Kawhi Leonard.
Career Longevity Bolsters GOAT Case
Despite those losses, James led the greatest comeback in Finals history in 2016, overcoming a 3–1 deficit against the Warriors — a series that preceded their acquisition of Durant.
James’ longevity and consistent excellence continue to bolster his case in the “greatest of all time” discussion. He is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, holds the record for most All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections with 21, and has won four NBA championships along with four Finals MVPs.
At age 40, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds last season, receiving more MVP votes than Curry, James Harden, and much younger stars Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson.
Offseason Controversy and Cryptic Messages
The Lakers star’s offseason has included some controversy.
James’ agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, sparked trade speculation after the star picked up his $52.6 million player option with no contract extension offered by the Lakers.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN in June. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
While Paul dismissed trade rumors later, James himself posted a cryptic message on Instagram in late July:
“Say whatever you want, but you damn sure won’t be able to say I didn’t put in the WORK!! 👑. We’ll see what happens when I no longer exist. Man, F this Shhhhhh,” he wrote alongside photos from his early offseason workouts.
As James prepares to enter his 21st NBA season, questions about his legacy and desire for another championship continue to swirl. While the debates over the “greatest of all time” may never be settled, his on-court excellence, longevity, and determination to keep competing ensure that James remains at the center of basketball conversations for years to come.
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