NBA star LeBron James has always been criticized for teaming up with other All-Stars in his career. It started in 2010, when he joined the Miami Heat and formed a Big 3 with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The three stars led the Heat to four straight Finals appearances and won two championships.
When he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, he formed another Big 3 with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Like the Heat, James helped the Cavaliers make the Finals for four straight years and won the title in 2016.
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The four-time champion was included in TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026” list, which was released on Tuesday. In the exclusive interview, James refuted the idea that pursuing titles alongside other NBA players is “cheating.”
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“It’s no different from someone in business going from one place to the next place, because they get a better opportunity to be around better people,” James said.
“In sports, sometimes people get so caught up in ‘He should do this on his own.’ I don’t play tennis and I don’t play golf. The way I grew up is, we’ve got to do this together as a team.”
However, fans did not like what LeBron James said, and they slammed him online for it.
“Loser mentality…. That bum jumped from team to team to ring chase,” a fan said.
“Brodie only saying that bc he couldn’t be Jordan and stay in one franchise during is prime,” another fan commented.
“N***a did all that teaming up and still didn’t create any dynasties. 😂” one fan said.
More fans called him out for his comments about teaming up to win titles.
“Another gaslighting comment from a losing finals record holder, we didn’t forget the decision gloating bagless guy, digging himself deeper with his insecure comments,” someone commented.
“Then he should have no issue with Durant kicking his ass in those two finals,” a comment read.
“His thought process held him back from being the goat imo,” one fan commented.
LeBron James Sounds Off on the GOAT Debate
One of the discussions that LeBron James tackled in his interview with TIME Magazine was the GOAT debate. James is no stranger to being part of it and being compared to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
James believes that fans’ perspectives about the GOAT debate usually depend on the era in which they grew up. Having a chance to watch a particular player influences someone’s opinion on who’s great and who’s not.
“You ask somebody that grew up in the Jordan era, they’re gonna say Jordan,” says James. “You ask somebody who grew up in the LeBron era — they’re still gonna say Jordan.”
When it comes to choosing who the greatest player of all time is, LeBron James said that he wouldn’t take anyone else over himself. And he believes that the same goes with Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and other NBA legends.
Edited by Reign Amurao
