LeBron bemoans ring culture: 'It's never enough'

LeBron James criticized the sermon astir "ring culture" successful the NBA, saying "a ringing is simply a squad accomplishment" and pushing backmost connected the thought that a player's idiosyncratic greatness is measured by however galore championships helium wins.

"Trying to nitpick an idiosyncratic due to the fact that helium was not capable to triumph a squad crippled oregon a squad lucifer -- oregon immoderate the lawsuit whitethorn beryllium -- I don't cognize wherever it started, but it's a agelong conversation, particularly erstwhile it comes to maine individually," James said connected his "Mind the Game" podcast with Steve Nash.

"It's truthful weird. It's ne'er enough."

James, a four-time NBA MVP and the league's all-time starring scorer, has won 4 championships and reached the NBA Finals 10 times during his 22-year NBA career.

Nash, a two-time MVP who did not triumph an NBA rubric during his career, acknowledged James' occurrence aft posing the listener question astir "ring culture," but James offered a lengthy effect that included respective all-time greats who did not triumph a championship.

"I don't cognize wherefore it's discussed truthful overmuch successful our athletics and wherefore it's the end-all, be-all of everything," James said. "Like OK, 'You weren't a large subordinate [because] you ne'er won a championship.' Or if you won one, you can't beryllium successful the aforesaid speech with this person. ... You beryllium present and archer maine Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley and Steve Nash f---ing weren't unbelievable?

"Like, 'Oh, they can't beryllium talked astir oregon discussed with these guys due to the fact that this feline won 1 ring, oregon won 2 rings.' It's conscionable weird to me."

James, 40, compared the NBA's title sermon to different sports, saying that all-time greats similar Dan Marino oregon Barry Bonds -- neither of whom won a title -- are not held to the aforesaid standard.

"I don't recognize wherever it came from. I don't cognize wherever it started," helium said. "I conscionable anticipation we person to admit much of what guys person been capable to accomplish, what guys person been capable to do.

"A ringing is simply a squad accomplishment, and if you hap to person a infinitesimal wherever you're capable to stock that with your team, that should beryllium discussed. 'This squad was the top team,' oregon 'that team' -- you tin person those conversations."