Former Players Not Including LeBron James in Top-5 Lists Angers Isiah Thomas: “It’s Jealousy”

Many former players do not believe Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is a Top 5 player of all time.

Former Players Not Including LeBron James in Top-5 Lists Angers Isiah Thomas: “It’s Jealousy”

LeBron James and Isiah Thomas (Image via FirstSportz)

No matter how exciting the NBA Finals have been, networks and shows cannot let a day go by without talking about LeBron James and his future.

It seems as if they want to force the issue, knowing that fans are going to take an interest in anything concerning the Los Angeles Lakers superstar on an off day.

With Game 5 set to be played out at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday, every other show wanted to get their latest opinions about the King.

Charles Barkley had once famously called out ESPN for its unending James and Lakers coverage. But Stephen A. Smith made it clear that the two draw a lot of ratings, which is basically the reason why everyone wants to talk about it.

Since rumors about LeBron James‘ future will become the most talked-about subject once the NBA Finals are over, one show decided to have a jumpstart when they had Isiah Thomas as a guest.

Guys are jealous, they get envious… They intentionally ignore the obvious. When you intentionally ignore the obvious, then it has to come back to jealousy, envy, or some straight-up BS. This man got every basketball record on the books, if he ain’t in your top 5, you’re full of s**t.

Isiah Thomas said

He was answering a question about how some former players do not list the Lakers superstar in their Top-5 lists. Thomas’ suggestion that it is sheer jealousy is a notion that has been thrown around recently. Even James’ agent thinks so, and has cited how it cost him business.

RELATED
‘TIME100 Athlete of the Century’ LeBron James Makes His GOAT Stance Clear: “I’m Not Taking Nobody Over Me”

Hall of Famer placed LeBron James outside of his Top 5

Run It Back decided to ask Isiah Thomas this question, since two former players who appeared on their show did not include the Lakers forward in their lists.

LeBron James in season 23
LeBron James in season 23 (Image via NBA Base/X)

MJ, Kobe, Magic, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then you go from there. You got Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal.

Tim Hardaway said

Tim Hardaway did give LeBron James his flowers for the way he has played this past season at age 41. The Miami Heat great felt that the Lakers’ superstar has redefined longevity.

However, he was not ready to place the Akron native in his Top-5 list. In fact, by the time he was done with his list, it was clear that James was not even his sixth-best player.

It was not surprising, since Hardaway has recently claimed that he felt a prime Dwyane Wade was even better than LeBron James was in his prime.

At the time, many felt that the 59-year-old was just jealous, as the 22-time All-Star playing for the Miami Heat and winning championships demoted Hardaway’s position as one of the franchise’s best players.

RELATED
LeBron James’ Former Teammate and 3-Time Champion Details Why 2020 Bubble Title Was Hardest: “Went Through Hell”

LeBron James’ rival did not include him in the Top-5 list

While some can dismiss the opinions of former players who have not played against LeBron James, when one such individual still left the Lakers’ superstar out of the Top-5, it raised some eyebrows.

He left Cleveland and got a championship… He left when it was adverse… MJ didn’t leave.

Bruce Bowen said

The San Antonio Spurs great knows all too well from his time in the league how good or bad the four-time league MVP has been. Bruce Bowen reiterated that his Top-5 are players who stayed with their original teams and battled it out to win titles.

He pointed out that with LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010, it proved that he was not ready to fight through adversity like the others on his list.

Even though the father of three did come back to win, the narrative had already been created. Bowen believes it would have been a lot different had James won titles by staying in Cleveland all throughout his 23-season career.

Also Read: