With Another Title, Are LeBron And AD All-Time Great Lakers?

They need at least one more title. If they can win two titles in 3 years, with a new coaching staff, and completely different roster? That's an impressive feat.

 

Whether they are all time greats and where they would rank as all time greats are two different questions to me.

win another ring and there’s no real valid reason why they wouldn’t be all time greats.

Where they would rank is going to vary wildly based on personal opinion.

 

Lebron sits at the same table with MJ without a legitimate argument against it anymore.

Anthony Davis would, in my 32 years of watching the NBA playoffs, have the greatest defensive run to a title I’ve ever seen. Davis could end up with a Western Conference MVP and a Finals MVP. If that happens, he ends up starting talk of a statue outside Crypto. Lebron with multiple titles for sure.

 

Lebron and MJ's table would be down a few levels from Kareem's but they could sit at the same one...lol.

 

At lobraawwn advanced age, I would had been content with one, but getting 2 would be a major feat

 

If they get a title this year absolutely, I think we retire Lebron number regardless, but AD gets it as well if we bring in another one.

 

but I tell them we need 3 to seriously consider them. Just to keep them motivated.

 

Interesting question.

Lebron and AD are going to go down as all time great players in NBA history with Lebron legitimately being discussed as the greatest player to ever play the game. When they won the bubble title they proved the duo was worthy of being praised as a great tandem. Many try to discredit that title because it was the bubble and some arbitrary "*" nonsense from no fans to no travel etc etc etc. So if they won again it would absolutely shut the * group up and prove that this duo is a force together and not just a pair of top tier superstars who played together (see: Philly). So to the point...

For this I can only go back to my time of really watching the Lakers from the 80's till now.

The simple first answer is they are indeed already All Time Greats because of their careers and the fact they brought a ring to LA as the primary duo. Both players will be HOF'ers and thus both will have their jerseys retired in LA (Bron will have his retired in 3 arenas- cle, Mia and LA. Thats all we need to know to consider his GOAT status cause thats crazy). But back to the point, my All time great Lakers duo goes like this:

Kobe/Shaq- This was the most dominant duo I have ever seen. Kobe was a Laker from jump and sits at the table of Greatest of All Time conversation. Shaq was the most dominant big man to play Center in the NBA based on his skillset, the competition he played against and him being literally unstoppable (sans the freethrows). It egos hadn't gotten in the way these guys could of matched or beat the bulls 6 rings. That is scary how good they were.

Magic/Kareem- I really don't need to say much about these boys. They fought our bitter enemy in epic fashion and created (with the other boys) the Showtime era of basketball. Magic is arguably the greatest PG of all time and Kareem, like Kobe, sits at the table of Greatest of All Time.

Kobe/Pau- Now, Bron/AD could of been placed above this duo (possibly) but for me Kobe/Pau are higher for a couple reasons. Kobe solidified his Lakers legacy and killed the narrative of "can't win without Shaq" that so many tried to shade him with. Kobe wasn't suppose to win another ring let alone 2 (and they could of 3peated had it not been for wheelchair boy). Pau is severely underrated as a player imo. The guy was one of the best big men to play the game, period. He came to LA and changed the dynamic of our history. These two are forever linked as they should be and they beat the C Bags in epic fashion.

Bron/AD- These boys have revitalized Lakers championship ball. AD coming over was a lot like us getting Shaq which was a great player going into his Prime. Like Shaq it feels like AD is our "championship player". Bron won in Miami, he even won in Clev (hometown boy brings title to that damaged city.... he will always be their kid. I imagine he goes into the HOF as a Cav) and then he won in LA. He has never felt like he was "LA" but more he is a champion IN LA. When I look at the rafters and see the players up there I think "Laker Gods" but when Lebron's goes up I will see him as an "NBA God" (which all those Lakers are too) but not necessarily a Lakers one first. That is why this duo goes 4th because when I think of the other duos I think Lakers first and thus they are the All Time Greats.

In the end, yes they are one of the All Time Greats in Lakers history.

ok thats my ramble.

 

I agree with virtually everything Puffy said (and I also started watching the 80s so I can't really put West, Baylor, or Wilt in context), with two caveats:

1) I think Magic also sits at the table of All Time Greats. He's probably still my #1 pick for "player I'd build a team around." For that and a couple other reasons, I'd probably put Magic and Kareem as the top Laker duo, but reasonable minds can disagree on that and it's certainly not "wrong" to keep Shaq/Kobe at the top.

2) I think--especially if and maybe only if--LeBron and AD can win another title together, I'd put them over Kobe/Pau. The Kobe/Pau due is very special to me and I don't mean to say anything to diminish them, but as between Kobe, Pau, LeBron and AD . . . Pau is the clear 4th best overall player in that duo, IMO.

 

It be historic if lobron and AD could beat the C Bags and which would put the Lakers ahead of C Bags in rings.

Kobe and
Pau beat the C Bags with a few players that would be out of the league after that. Farmer, Sasha, brown, one knee Bynum, Luke was average, C Bags had a better team, but the Lakers had a very motivated black mamba

 

This is the way.

 

If LeBron and AD come back from an 0-3 hole and then win the finals this year, they are below Magic/Kareem and Kobe/Shaq only.

 

theres no IF here, 0-149 for good reason and these last 3 gms we can all see they cannot and do not finish games well

 

Yep. We've been playing playoff basketball since Feb and there's nothing left in the tank and we're against a better, healthier team who's got our number.