There’s an argument hyping LeBron James as the best ever to play in the NBA. For Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal and Ex-Miami Heat star Mario Chalmers, though, the lack of fear amongst the King’s opponents is one detriment that can’t be overlooked.
Throughout the course of his legendary career in the NBA, James has left an undeniable case to be named the greatest ever to play the game. Just recently, the Lakers’ All-Star became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the first person to score 40,000 points.
Along with those notable records, James has also won four rings, several MVPs and Finals MVPs, and named to 20 All-Star Games. And even at 39 years of age, the King is still playing at a high level, something most players half his age struggle to even achieve.
But even will all of his accolades and feats in the league, there is still a significant portion of the fanbase who think that James isn’t worthy to join the GOAT conversation with Michael Jordan, due to a lack of fear his opponents possess when facing him.
Los Angeles Lakers Legend Shaquille O’Neal and Ex-Miami Heat Star Mario Chalmers Say No One Fears LeBron James
Among those who believe that James doesn’t impose the same level of fear Jordan did during his time in the league are Shaquille O’Neal and Mario Chalmers. In an article by Andrew Gould for The Spun:
“So I’ve heard players say, including myself, I feared Mike,” O’Neal said. “I heard players of your generation say they feared Kobe. I never really heard any player say they feared LeBron.”
Chalmers chimed in by saying that the lack of fear when facing James was not an insult to the Lakers’ star. “I just think, at the end of the day, ‘Bron has been through so much that he wanted to be liked,” the former Miami Heat guard added.
At this point in time, James has not responded to what O’Neal and Chalmers said. Nevertheless, the King’s game has done all the talking over the course of his long career, with or without opponents fearing him on the court.
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