Four-time champion and widely regarded NBA superstar LeBron James may only retire a player for two of his former teams, NBA expert Stephen A Smith said. Nevertheless, Smith, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers player during his prime, thinks only two teams, the Cavaliers and the Heat, will retire his jersey.
Cleveland and Miami: A Sure Bet
James inevitably influenced the Cavs and the Heat. In Cleveland, he brought the long-awaited NBA championship in 2016, which became a breakthrough after 52 years of waiting for the citizens for the championship titles of the city’s sports teams. His comeback to the Cavs was definitive and retirement of his number should be expected in Cleveland. Likewise, his tenure with the Miami Heat would also include consecutive titles in the years 2012 and 2013 to engrave his status in Miami. The two teams are believed to honor his contribution by pulling of his jersey number from circulation.
Lakers’ Potential Dispute
Smith continues to make what might amount to a hot take when he predicts the Lakers may not retire James’ jersey. He claims that James’ one championship with the Lakers in 2020 which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic may not be enough to earn him such recognition. He optimistically highlights the circumstances of the particular season and believes that one title may be insufficient for the Lakers because they usually have greater expectations for retired numbers.
Legacy in Limbo
Still, it remains peculiar how the opinion of Stephen A Smith evoked such a reaction; LeBron James remains a symbol of the transformation of the sport and its characters different from those that left their jerseys hanging in the stadium. The impact he has made on the court and off it has been great, and the legacy he will leave on all the teams he has played for is huge. Whether they will be able to retire his jersey may well depend on his future performance or how the current string of his career will end.
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