5x NBA champion calls out former Los Angeles Lakers member for his claims about the 2020 NBA Championship.
Over the years, one thing has become abundantly clear: as long as LeBron James keeps playing in the NBA, he will be under scrutiny for one reason or another.
For a player who has been consistent for 22 years and won four NBA Championships in the process, sometimes the criticism can feel unwarranted.
A key reason behind this is James’ case for being the greatest basketball player of all time, which pitches him against none other than Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty ImagesKentavious Caldwell-Pope’s take on LeBron James and the GOAT debate
Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is among the stars who have shared the court with James during a championship run.
LBJ and KCP were teammates during the LA Lakers‘ 2020 NBA title run. Many have disregarded that ring due to the playoffs taking place in the Orlando Bubble in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, Caldwell-Pope believes that the 2020 Lakers were one of the best rosters of all time and if the front office hadn’t given up on them, the GOAT debate would have been settled by now.
“That team, we had a lot of moments where everything just clicked for us. Off the court, on the court, inviting to each other’s houses, we were just hanging out with each other,” KCP said, h/t NBA Central.
“Those were my brothers, I spent more time with my team than my family… I think if we kept that team together, we would’ve run off two more… There would be no more GOAT talk, that would’ve put [LeBron] at six,” he added.
It’s certainly a controversial take and didn’t take long for many to criticize it as this involved James being declared the GOAT.
Ron Harper takes a shot at the 2020 LA Lakers
5x NBA champion and former teammate of MJ, Ron Harper, was one of the first to share his discontent with Caldwell-Pope’s comment.
Harper responded: “What 2020 title the bubble gum ring?”
Harper, whose son Dylan Harper is one of the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft, used just seven words to downplay the Lakers’ 2020 title.
This is no surprise as many former players have felt that winning in the Orlando Bubble wasn’t a tough task, while others believe the opposite.