LeBron James Says NBA Is Moving Past ‘Big Three’ Era: 'It’s About Depth Now'

LeBron James has seen the NBA evolve more than almost anyone in league history. As a four-time champion who helped define the “Big Three” era alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, LeBron knows a thing or two about what it takes to win titles. But in a recent conversation about the state of the league, James suggested that times are changing—and the model for success may no longer be about stacking stars, but building depth.

“You find a guy like Wemby,” said LeBron, referring to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. “The game is going to continue to evolve. The big three era had its moment… But having depth, being able to bring in multiple guys who can do multiple things, I think that’s the era we may fall into.”

LeBron has a unique perspective on NBA superteams. From his days on the Heat with Wade and Bosh to his second stint on the Cavaliers with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, James has been a part of some stacked rosters over the years, and he's often blamed as the reason for the rise in player empowerment.

Of course, the truth is that superteams existed long before the Heat's 'Big Three.' Decades prior, the Lakers had Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor. In the 80s, they also had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy. That's not to mention superteams like the Spurs (Duncan, Ginobili, Parker), Celtics (Pierce, Garnett, Allen), and the Bulls (Jordan, Pippen, Rodman).

Of course, it wasn't until the 2010s that stacking superstars became the standard team-building method. As stars began to join forces, teams across the league raced to horde talent, and anyone who couldn't keep up was sorely left behind. Recently, however, the trend has started to shift.

With the failures of teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers, the league has started moving away from superteams into an era that rewards depth. Over the past three years, the champions—like the 2023 Nuggets, 2024 Celtics, and 2025 Thunder—have each leaned heavily on depth, chemistry, and smart team-building rather than overwhelming star power.

Then, there's the Spurs. While they finished near the bottom of the standings last season, they are in a pretty good spot going forward with amazing flexibility, a positive culture, and a superstar in Victor Wembanyama who can lead them for the next 10+ years. This patient and methodical approach has ultimately proven successful with several young teams already, and it's why we're seeing GMs value depth over a top-heavy roster.

For James, he won't be around much longer to help the league through this transition, but we have to acknowledge his awareness of fan/media expectations. He knows what the fans want to see, and he's committed to maintaining his usual standards, even in a changing NBA.

LeBron James might have defined an era with the rise of the “Big Three,” but as the game continues to evolve, he’s clearly watching the shift just like everyone else. Whether or not his Lakers can adapt to this new era of depth and balance remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: LeBron’s eye for the future remains as sharp as ever, even in year 22.