John Salley recently discussed why LeBron James has won fewer championships compared to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Salley pointed out that LeBron has never been part of a system designed to win championships. He mentioned Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, which helped Jordan and Bryant win 6 and 5 NBA championships, respectively. He also noted that Steve Kerr used a similar system to win 4 championships with the Warriors and Stephen Curry.
Salley emphasized that LeBron never had the advantage of playing in such a structured system. Instead, LeBron has often had to carry the team on his own. Salley highlighted that all of LeBron’s 4 championships were the result of his outstanding performances and crucial contributions from his teammates, rather than a consistent winning system.
LeBron, known for his basketball intelligence, has not had a coach who could match his strategic acumen and build a strong system around him. The closest he came was with Erik Spoelstra, who showed glimpses of tactical brilliance during LeBron’s time in Miami but has since improved significantly as a coach.
Despite approaching 40, LeBron remains one of the NBA’s top players and continues to perform at a high level. He can still lead a team to a championship if supported by the right teammates and coaching.
Recently, the Lakers fired head coach Darvin Ham and are searching for a replacement. Although LeBron will be consulted by Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss on the final decision, he will not be actively involved in the coaching search. Former NBA player JJ Redick, who shares a strong relationship with LeBron and started a podcast with him, has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the position.
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