Poll: Some national media critics have said James must play on multiple championship teams to be regarded in the same class as players such as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Bill Russell. What do you think?
LeBron James holds his second MVP trophy before a Quicken Loans Arena crowd on May 3.
Already, at age 25, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has won two MVP awards. The Cavs were a struggling franchise before they drafted him first in 2003, but in the last five seasons, James has led them to eight playoff series wins.
Yet, in the wake of the Cavaliers' elimination from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics, some national critics are saying that James needs to play on multiple championship teams to secure his place among the game's all-time greats. Boston center Bill Russell played on 11 championship teams. Among some of the game's legendary non-centers, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six titles; Magic Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to five; Larry Bird led Boston to three.
Jerry West and Oscar Robertson weren't champions until the twilight of their careers: West, once with the Lakers; Robertson, once with the Milwaukee Bucks after playing his best years with the Cincinnati Royals.
Then, the guys who famously never played on a championship team: the duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone; Patrick Ewing; Charles Barkley; Dominique Wilkins, George Gervin, Pete Maravich, Nate Thurmond and many, many more.
No doubt, James is among a select group of the most talented players ever. What will it take in terms of championships for him to be regarded among the very, very few, among the absolute greatest ever?