LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players in the world. However, one point keeps sticking out for the all-time greatest scorer.
According to many, James does not have the fear factor, unlike Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant during their time. Shaquille O’Neal chimed in to confirm the notion that players do not fear James.
The Big Podcast with Shaq’s guest and former Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers was trolled for his comments about nobody fearing LeBron James. And that’s exactly what the former basketball pro gave his opinion on.
Chalmers mentioned that fans and players went after him for making that comment about James. O’Neal defended Chalmers’ logic by suggesting no player has ever revealed that side of James.
I’ve heard players say, including myself, I feared Mike. I’ve heard players of your generation say they feared Kobe. Never really heard any players say they fear LeBron. O’Neal picked up the topic and said
However, they did talk about how LeBron James has always projected himself as a nice guy. In comparison, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant showcased their aggressive sides throughout their careers. Only in the later stages of their careers, or rather, in Jordan’s case, after he retired, did they start to show their softer side to the public.
O’Neal and Chalmers mentioned that the fear factor that Jordan or Bryant had was enough to unsettle opposing players. In comparison, every player knows how good of a basketball player James is. They also know what a good human being he is.
Notably, these factors have helped the Los Angeles Lakers superstar garner respect from the entire basketball community.
Does LeBron James need to strike fear into the opposition?
Since LeBron James came into the league, he has been the best player in the league. In his 21 years of playing in the NBA, James has won four titles and become the all-time scoring leader in league history. Throughout that period, players might not have feared him, but they knew the game would be tough with James playing against them.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan have more titles than James. But they also had superstar teammates to help them during those runs.
Lebron James’ title numbers would have been higher than the four he currently has. If only the Cleveland Cavaliers or Los Angeles Lakers built a championship-winning team around him. Interestingly enough, James has made more NBA Finals appearances than either of them.
Shaquille O’Neal and Mario Chalmers might be right in saying that LeBron James does not strike fear into the hearts of the opposition. He has shown that one can win multiple NBA titles without it.