Byron Scott Says LeBron James Needs Another Title Before Earning Lakers Statue
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Former Los Angeles Lakers guard and head coach Byron Scott believes LeBron James has not yet done enough in purple and gold to merit a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
Speaking with TMZ Sports, Scott said James would “have a chance” at the honor if he secures a second championship for the franchise, but argued the current résumé falls short of the standard set by previous honorees.
“If you look at the players that have statues in front of Crypto.com Arena, these are long lifers,” Scott told the outlet. “They’ve been with the Lakers for almost their entire career, and they’ve had multiple championships.”
Seven figures are immortalized in Star Plaza: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and longtime broadcaster Chick Hearn. Except for O’Neal, who won three consecutive titles during his eight-season stay, each spent more than a decade with the organization.
James, 40, is preparing for his eighth year in Los Angeles — already his longest stint with any club. He guided the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship and has broken several all-time records while with the team, yet Scott contends those achievements do not equal the collective impact of the statue recipients.
The four-time MVP is more closely linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team, and enjoyed a dominant stretch with the Miami Heat, Scott noted. Another banner in Los Angeles, however, could elevate him to the franchise’s highest echelon.
Uncertainty surrounds how long James will continue playing, but his agent, Rich Paul, recently urged fans to focus on the present rather than speculate about the star’s future.
Source: Lakers Nation
