Shaquille O’Neal Backs LeBron James’ Title Pursuit with 76ers: “You’re Supposed to Chase Rings”

Shaquille O'Neal has defended LeBron James pursuit of championships after it came to light he wants to join a contender.

Shaquille O’Neal Backs LeBron James’ Title Pursuit with 76ers: “You’re Supposed to Chase Rings”

LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal (Image via FirstSportz)

After LeBron James announced that he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers, all his critics were lining up to talk about ring chasing and how he would not be the GOAT even if he won championships there.

From the start of free agency, it was clear that the 41-year-old would be joining a contender. He made it clear that he wants to fight for championships before he hangs up his sneakers.

All five teams who were in the running were contenders, which is why, wherever he went, those criticisms would stick. However, since the 76ers created what was on paper the strongest starting five before he announced his decision, the naysayers have been that much louder in their criticisms.

While some claimed that James would fall out of the GOAT race, others, such as Charles Barkley, claimed that it would be akin to cheating. Joining another superteam would, in fact, make it easier to win titles, and that was unfair.

I think he’s going to go somewhere he can win another ring… Once we’re done, we can never play again. You never want to retire saying, ‘I should have done this. I should have done that.’… A lot of haters call it ring chasing. But you’re supposed to be chasing rings. If you chase rings and accomplish getting them, that’s what we call greatness.

Shaquille O’Neal said on Extra TV

The Hall of Famer reiterated what he has been saying over the past few days, that there is nothing wrong with ring chasing. In fact, he believes that it is normal for any athlete to chase championships, while also stating that those who criticize haven’t won anything in life.

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Veteran analyst questions criticism over LeBron James’ 76ers signing

Shaquille O’Neal said that in his interview a couple of days ago. His idea was that wherever LeBron James goes, the criticism of ring chasing should not be a deterrent. After the announcement that the superstar was joining the Philadelphia 76ers, those criticisms grew louder, which caught a certain Colin Cowherd‘s attention.

In every other sport, NFL, if you join another team, you are smart. In baseball, you join the Yankees or the Dodgers, you are smart. High school football player joins Ohio State, he’s smart, he wants to win championships. But pro basketball players are punished for choosing the team that can compete for a championship… To me its a smart move.

Colin Cowherd said

The veteran analyst asked why there was hypocrisy when these same naysayers do not mind it, or even celebrate, when that happens in other sports. He added that, just like the instances he pointed out, LeBron James joining the 76ers was a smart move.

Cowherd pointed out that joining the Warriors would have been all about camaraderie. Had he joined the Cavaliers, it would be about comfort. The Miami Heat’s roster makeup makes it confusing.

The only move that would almost guarantee championships was if the four-time league MVP joined the Warriors. Therefore, it was very smart on both James and his agent, Rich Paul‘s smart, and should be applauded.

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Colin Cowherd compares LeBron James joining 76ers to Tom Brady’s move to Tampa

Colin Cowherd shot that clip before his plane took off. After he landed wherever he was going, he took to his podcast, The Volume, to further defend why LeBron James joining the 76ers was not ring chasing.

Jay Z, LeBron James, and Tom Brady at the Fanatics Fest
Jay Z, LeBron James, and Tom Brady at the Fanatics Fest (Image via Hovbey/X)

This move by LeBron feels like Brady to Tampa. This is not KD to the Warriors. The Sixers haven’t won an Eastern Conference championship in 25 years… This is not ring chasing.

Colin Cowherd said

The FS1 analyst pointed out that James did not move to a winning team. Rather, his arrival probably makes them a winner, just like when Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It could have been labeled as ring chasing had he joined a winning team.

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