Does the amount of Teams he played for hurt Lebron's legacy?

MystikSpiral · Post #1 » by **MystikSpiral** » Sat May 3, 2025 9:27 am

The obvious answer should be "No, who cares?", but I think there is something about being iconic to a certain city / team, that it can actually elevate your legacy. Like Dirk or Reggie Miller. Also there are people lile Moses Malone, who isn't nearly as highly regarded as he should be, partly due to the amount of teams he's been on.

I keep wondering what jersey people will picture him in in their head once he's retired, what team people will remember him playing for? I mean, he has not really been a constant long enough, has he? Especially in his prime and the later years, he never made people feel comfortable that he's "their guy". Always one foot out, keeping everybody on edge for the sake of leverage.

In the end, has this moving around really benefitted his legacy or even maybe hurt it a little bit, since he was never part of a team that people will remember 15 years from now like the Warriors, the Spurs, the Pistons, the Bulls, etc.?

Post #2 » by **Mavrelous** » Sat May 3, 2025 9:34 am

Not really, early in his career he saw the obvious, he is too good and too important to tbe league to waste on irrelevant teams, if anything, his biggest career mistake was pushing for the Russ trade.

ORLMagicGirl15 · Post #3 » by **ORLMagicGirl15** » Sat May 3, 2025 9:40 am

He played on 3 teams and won a championship for each one. How would that tarnish his legacy?

KyRo23 · Post #4 » by **KyRo23** » Sat May 3, 2025 9:41 am

Does the amount of LeBron threads on the 1st page of the General Forum hurt this sites legacy?

Lakers In 5 · Post #5 » by **Lakers In 5** » Sat May 3, 2025 9:47 am

You guys are way too obsessed with this legacy stuff.

Maxthirty · Post #6 » by **Maxthirty** » Sat May 3, 2025 9:52 am

A championship and Finals MVP with every team he’s played for. If anything, it boosts his legacy.

MystikSpiral · Post #7 » by **MystikSpiral** » Sat May 3, 2025 10:02 am

Mavrelous wrote:Not really, early in his career he saw the obvious, he is too good and too important to tbe league to waste on irrelevant teams, if anything, his biggest career mistake was pushing for the Russ trade.

He pushed for a several players that made people scratch their heads. And still ended up on a few of irrelevant teams regardless.

I do agree that it made sense at the time to move on from Cleveland, but there is a part of me that thinks if he never leaves Miami and does not try to influence personel decisions as much as he has, they win at least 2-3 more over the years and he puts his stamp on that franchise.

I also think it cannot be denied that players like Reggie Miller would not be rememberd as much today, had they not been a constant on a team for so long.

The High Cyde · Post #8 » by **The High Cyde** » Sat May 3, 2025 10:23 am

Demagoog wrote:You guys are way too obsessed with this legacy stuff.

They need to either touch grass or smoke it like me, can’t be bothered with this legacy crap man lmao

Post #9 » by **Dadouv47** » Sat May 3, 2025 10:41 am

3 teams in 22 seasons...that's not a lot at all.

Post #10 » by **zimpy27** » Sat May 3, 2025 11:18 am

I think it actually helps his legacy.

He's the only player in NBA history to prove that he can win in 3 completely different teams, different teammates and coaches. He led all 3 to championships and got finals MVP.

I actually think Jordans 6 with Pippen and Jackson is not telling you that Jordan was the common denominator. Rather the combination of the 3 was important and it worked well enough to repeat. Jordan teams didn't look so good without the triangle system. We can only guess if he could have won on other teams and in other systems, no proof.

KAJ also proved it like LeBron.

JujitsuFlip · Post #11 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Sat May 3, 2025 12:21 pm

Maxthirty wrote:A championship and Finals MVP with every team he’s played for. If anything, it boosts his legacy.

/thread

hauntedcomputer · Post #12 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Sat May 3, 2025 12:43 pm

More impressed with Russell who did it with two completely different teams in the same city.

Lebron's a product of his era--very few players of this era have stayed with one team and, given the aprons, it's likely current and future players will play for multiple teams. But legacy stuff is just subjective argument anyway, so it truly doesn't matter outside of message boards. Six Finals losses is a bigger ding to his legacy if you are a RANGZ guy.

shi-woo · Post #13 » by **shi-woo** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:00 pm

It's never been about the amount of teams he played for more so the who what where when why and how of it all.

No one cared he left CLE, they cared that he colluded with other stars to form a super team.

No one cared that he left MIA, but that he was leaving a top notch org and again going to a better younger situation hand picked by him

Him leaving CLE for LA and acting like it wasn't to form another super team with another colluding star was pretty distasteful.

His entire career has been about stacking the deck, creating a narrative and storyline, and then following it through with backbreaking levels of propaganda. If you're someone who sees this and dislikes it, then you might not think highly of LBJ like I don't, but if you don't care than you're like the other Witnesses in this thread.

If Mike showed us how to create a brand, LeBron showed us how to run and organize it.

MavsDirk41 · Post #14 » by **MavsDirk41** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:20 pm

I think its far more impressive to be part of a dynasty and dominate the nba with the organization that drafted you like a Jordan or Duncan in comparison to team hopping and teaming up with other established all star players to win.

NbaAllDay · Post #15 » by **NbaAllDay** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:30 pm

MavsDirk41 wrote:I think its far more impressive to be part of a dynasty and dominate the nba with the organization that drafted you like a Jordan or Duncan in comparison to team hopping and teaming up with other established all star players to win.

If only every all time great had the front office and coaches these guys had within the earlier parts of their career.

This narrative is so tiring it shouldn't need to be expanded on.

bovice · Post #16 » by **bovice** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:36 pm

no, it doesn't effect his legacy. LeBron is a top 15 player of all time and nothing changes that.

ShannonWright · Post #17 » by **ShannonWright** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:39 pm

Simple answer:

Level-headed fans: no

Lebron haters: oh yes!

MavsDirk41 · Post #18 » by **MavsDirk41** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:44 pm

NbaAllDay wrote:
MavsDirk41 wrote:I think its far more impressive to be part of a dynasty and dominate the nba with the organization that drafted you like a Jordan or Duncan in comparison to team hopping and teaming up with other established all star players to win.

If only every all time great had the front office and coaches these guys had within the earlier parts of their career.

This narrative is so tiring it shouldn't need to be expanded on.

He could have stayed in Miami with Spo (future HOF coach) and let Riley build a roster around him. Miami is one of the top nba organizations in drafting and developing talent, plus they are a top free agent destination. But im glad we will overlook this because it doesnt make him look good. Lol come on man.

UcanUwill · Post #19 » by **UcanUwill** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:52 pm

He would be far more beloved if he stayed with the CAVS and was one team guy.

Message Boar · Post #20 » by **Message Boar** » Sat May 3, 2025 1:57 pm

In short, yes. To me it does, at least. Of course it's not a huge deal but I don't appreciate his team hopping and LeGM antics. Don't think it's been that good for the teams he's played for, either.

Might type a more elaborate response later.