Shaquille O’Neal offers rebuttal for NBA fans claiming LeBron James is ‘ring chasing’ by joining Sixers
It goes with out saying that LeBron James wish to win one other NBA title earlier than retiring, which is the identical objective that each single participant within the Association has. That truth hasn’t slowed down the criticism of James’ determination to signal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with many labeling him a “ring chaser” for taking his skills to Philly.
James, who will flip 42 in December, has 4 NBA championship rings to his identify, having received them with three completely different groups. It’s very simple to argue that his alternative to hitch the Sixers versus different fits such because the Miami HeatCleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors does give him the most effective and maybe best path to choose up one other title, which leads again to the ring-chasing title he is picked up since making his determination.
If we’re sincere, James would have been labeled a hoop chaser it doesn’t matter what franchise he signed with merely based mostly on his age and the truth that he is on the tail finish of his profession.
Shaquille O’Neal speaks onstage throughout the Big Podcast panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 17, 2026, in New York City. (Rob Kim/Getty Images for Fanatics)
Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is aware of a factor or two about carrying across the similar label of ring chaser after joining the Boston Celtics within the remaining season of his profession. James receiving related remedy earlier than suiting up for the Sixers would not precisely sit nicely with him, nevertheless.
“I don’t like y’all calling my man a ring chaser,” O’Neal mentioned, referring to James, throughout a latest look on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
LeBron James speaks onstage throughout the thoughts the sport panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026, in New York City. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Fanatics)
“It’s funny to me that people who don’t have rings to say ‘Oh, he’s a ring chaser.’ No, he’s continuous chasing, he’s chasing the chance to continue to be great, to continue to add legacy to his book.
“When this factor is over, it is over, you’ll be able to’t come again. Once you retire, as soon as your physique says it could’t go no extra, it is over. This man feels he has two or three years left, why not try to get one other championship? I did it, I did it with Boston. I received three in a row after which received one in Miami. At the top of my profession, let me go play with Paul [Pierce] and KG (Kevin Garnett) and see if I can win one.”
THE 76ERS JUMP TO BETTING FAVORITE OUT EAST AFTER LEBRON JAMES TAKES HIS TALENTS TO PHILADELPHIA
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
James will be teaming up alongside Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia, which could evolve into a certified four-headed monster in the Eastern Conference.
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The most important word in the previous sentence, however, is ‘could.’
Ring chaser, or ‘continious chaser’ as O’Neal put it, the labels and even the predictions don’t matter at this point. The only thing that matters is what James and the Sixers do come April of next year when the postseason starts.
