On the one hand, James is an incredibly talented star who isn\u2019t selfish with the ball. He sets up his teammates well and helps them improve thanks to his basketball IQ and vision.<\/p>\n
But there is the pressure of having to play your part, as James is usually on teams that are competing for an NBA championship.<\/p>\n
Failing to hold up your end, even for one game, can lead to an all-out attack on your talent level, skill, and even character from fans and the media alike.<\/p>\n
But it appears this pressure isn\u2019t even self-imposed for athletes, nor is it from outside forces. In fact, James\u2019 coaches tell the players what they\u2019re in for when playing with him.<\/p>\n
![\"Iman](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-502803858-941x627.jpg\")
Photo by Jason Miller\/Getty ImagesIman Shumpert reveals Ty Lue instruction not to be a scorer for Cleveland Cavaliers<\/p>\n
Iman Shumpert spoke on NBA Today about the challenges that come with playing alongside LeBron James. The pressure for any young player is absolutely massive.<\/p>\n
Shumpert recalled a time when, after a strong game where he shot well in the playoffs, Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> head coach Ty Lue<\/a> told him to be a 3-&-D expert, and not a leading scorer for them.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a ridiculous amount of pressure that comes with it. You have to be in a \u2018win-now\u2019 mindset every time you play on his team.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to be able to say, \u2018Now, in this time that I\u2019m playing with LeBron, can I sacrifice? If I was scoring 20 a game somewhere else, now it needs to be 12 a game.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI had my time with T-Lue, I had a great playoff game, really shooting it well, next game I know we\u2019re going to run some plays for Shump. Absolutely not.<\/p>\n \u201cGo sit in the corner, knock that shot down, keep defending like a madman, we don\u2019t need you to score.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a hard pill for me to swallow as a young player, trying to get my stuff off. I really want to get better and develop.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand him saying now, \u2018it ain\u2019t about you\u2019, \u2018you gonna want to win that ring more than you win \u2018player of the month\u2019, way more than \u2018most improved player\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sucks when you\u2019re going through that because that\u2019s a mental battle for any player. It sucks at the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n LA Lakers no longer making LeBron James the focal point of their team<\/p>\n At 40 years of age, LeBron James is still one of the best players in the NBA. However, unlike years past, like the time Shumpert referenced in Cleveland, he is not the primary option on his team.<\/p>\n The LA Lakers have prioritized Luka Doncic over LeBron James<\/a> as their centerpiece, believing that LeBron\u2019s championship ambition<\/a> isn\u2019t their main priority anymore.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n While the Lakers are committed to building around James and Doncic<\/a>, there is quite a lot of noise about LeBron potentially leaving the team.<\/p>\n