LeBron James has reached the NBA Finals nine times in his career, but he’s come up short on six of those occasions. Some critics have pinned the blame on the quality of his teammates, arguing they weren’t good enough to support his championship runs. However, Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and former on-court rival, has publicly dismissed this notion, stating that discrediting LeBron’s teammates just to elevate his legacy is both unfair and inaccurate.
In a candid interview, Kobe offered a pointed take: “If I were LeBron, I’d have to find a way to win a championship. This isn’t just theory—you want to win, you find a way,” he said. His comments echoed a core philosophy in basketball’s elite circles: greatness is measured by titles, not just statistics. Compared to Michael Jordan’s flawless six-for-six Finals record, LeBron’s six Finals losses often reignite debates about his place in NBA history.
Kobe elaborated that for him, championships were the ultimate benchmark. “When I was a kid, all I thought about was winning titles. That’s how I judged Jordan, Bird, and Magic. Winning was the only thing that mattered,” he explained. While modern fans and analysts may use broader metrics to evaluate players, Kobe made it clear that rings still rule.
LeBron’s 2018 playoff performance was undeniably heroic. According to Cricket Exchange, he averaged 34 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 9 assists per game, carrying an underdog Cleveland Cavaliers squad to the Finals for the fourth straight year and clinching his eighth consecutive Eastern Conference title. His spectacular run sparked fresh comparisons with Michael Jordan, fueling yet another round of the ongoing GOAT debate.
Still, the Finals ended in disappointment. The Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors, marking the first Finals sweep since 2007—ironically, also led by a young LeBron against the Spurs. Despite averaging 34 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 10 assists in the 2018 Finals, James couldn’t change the outcome.
As Kobe put it simply, “That’s just my take.” The message is clear: to rise to the top and stay there, finding a new way to win is the only path forward. And in LeBron’s case, that journey isn’t over yet.