LeBron James has done just about everything there is to do in the NBA. Four championships? Check. Finals MVPs? He’s got four of those too. Oh, and let’s not forget—he’s the league’s all-time leading scorer. After 22 seasons of dominance, LeBron’s legacy is already etched in basketball history.
While much of his legendary career was built before he arrived in Los Angeles, James has still made a major impact in a Lakers uniform. Since signing with the team in 2018, he’s been an All-Star every single season, brought an NBA title to LA in 2020, and added yet another Finals MVP to his collection.
With all that success, it’s safe to assume the Lakers will retire at least one of his jersey numbers (6 or 23). But what about a statue outside Crypto.com Arena? That’s where things get interesting.
The Lakers franchise is one of the most storied in all of sports, and only a select few have earned the honor of having their likeness immortalized in bronze. Legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, and the late, great Kobe Bryant all have statues outside the arena. So, does LeBron deserve to join that elite group?
As the debate swirls, one man who already has a statue weighed in—Shaquille O’Neal. Speaking to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Shaq made his stance clear:
“LeBron broke the record, and he did it as a Laker,” O’Neal said, referencing James’ achievement as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. “Would I oppose him having a statue in Los Angeles? No, I wouldn’t… But he won a championship with the Lakers, and a lot of people try to discredit it. If that one doesn’t count, then you can’t count Mr. Duncan’s bubble championship either. That’s right. I said it! If we’re counting Tim Duncan’s lockout-year championship, then you have to count LeBron’s too.”
Shaq makes a strong point. There’s been plenty of debate over whether the Lakers’ 2020 championship, won in the NBA’s COVID-era bubble, holds the same weight as other titles. But as O’Neal reminds everyone, history doesn’t come with asterisks. A championship is a championship, and LeBron delivered one for the purple and gold.
Having his own statue outside Crypto.com Arena, Shaq’s opinion carries some serious weight. The Diesel knows what it takes to be immortalized in Lakers lore, and he wouldn’t have any problem seeing LeBron get the same treatment.
The question remains: Has LeBron done enough in a Lakers uniform to earn a statue? His tenure in LA, while impressive, doesn’t match the longevity of Magic, Kareem, or Kobe. But then again, becoming the all-time leading scorer while wearing the Lakers jersey is no small feat.
With his career winding down, the Lakers organization will eventually have to make a decision. And if Shaq’s opinion is any indication, there’s a good chance we could see a LeBron statue standing tall outside Crypto.com Arena in the future.