From his remarkable performances on the court to his off-the-court influence, the legacy of LeBron James is one that has been widely discussed, praised, and, at times, criticized.
Despite the accolades, there has been a growing narrative that LeBron James systematically tarnishes the reputations of his teammates to shift blame away from himself.
Recently, former Boston Celtic Brian Scalabrine reignited this conversation, prompting a response from LeBron himself, and the issue has since exploded into the public arena.
The Narrative of Blame and Scapegoating
LeBron James has built a legacy as a player who elevates his teammates and makes his entire team better.
However, critics argue that, while LeBron is undeniably great, the notion that he elevates everyone around him may not always hold up under scrutiny.
In fact, there’s a counter-narrative that suggests the opposite: when things go wrong, it’s rarely LeBron who takes the fall — it’s his teammates.
This was brought into sharp focus recently by Scalabrine, who commented on how Russell Westbrook was treated during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
During a broadcast of the Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets game, Scalabrine expressed his sympathy for Westbrook, who he believed was unfairly scapegoated for the Lakers’ struggles.
He remarked that he hoped Westbrook would have a breakout game against the Lakers to prove himself, adding that LeBron James had effectively made Westbrook the “fall guy” for the team’s failures.
This commentary, though brief, encapsulated a criticism that has followed LeBron for much of his career — that his teammates often bear the brunt of the blame when things go south.
LeBron’s Response: Defending His Legacy
LeBron James, never one to shy away from addressing criticism, took to Twitter to respond to Scalabrine’s comments.
In a tweet, LeBron sarcastically remarked that someone went all the way to Abu Dhabi just to criticize him, before calling Westbrook a “legend.”
This response showcased LeBron’s awareness of the accusations leveled against him.
He seemed to be trying to turn the conversation away from the scapegoating narrative by praising Westbrook, but his response also highlighted how sensitive he is to the ongoing debate about his leadership style.
This incident isn’t the first time LeBron has faced criticism regarding how his teammates are treated.
Over the years, several notable players have seen their reputations take a hit while playing alongside the NBA superstar, despite their prior individual successes.
Kevin Love, Chris Bosh, and the “LeBron Effect”
The pattern of LeBron’s teammates becoming scapegoats isn’t a recent development.
Kevin Love and Chris Bosh are prime examples of players whose reputations suffered after joining LeBron’s teams.
Both were All-Star caliber players before teaming up with LeBron, and both saw significant changes to their roles once they joined forces with him.
Kevin Love, who was a 26-point, 14-rebound per game player in Minnesota, saw his numbers drop when he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He went from being a dominant force in the paint to a spot-up shooter, sacrificing his own game to fit into LeBron’s system.
Throughout his time with the Cavaliers, Love was often blamed for the team’s shortcomings, despite his willingness to change his game for the team’s success.
Critics were quick to target him when things didn’t go well, as if Love was the problem rather than a victim of circumstance.
Similarly, Chris Bosh, once a dominant post player and scorer with the Toronto Raptors, saw his role diminished when he joined LeBron and Dwyane Wade in Miami.
Bosh’s stats took a noticeable dip, and he too became the target of media and fan criticism whenever the Miami Heat faltered.
His transformation into a role player wasn’t due to a decline in his abilities but rather a consequence of having to adjust his game to accommodate LeBron’s needs.
Both Love and Bosh went from being the focal points of their respective teams to secondary or even tertiary options, and when things didn’t work out, they were often blamed for the failures.
The Russell Westbrook Debacle
Perhaps one of the most glaring examples of LeBron’s teammates being scapegoated is the treatment of Russell Westbrook during his time with the Lakers.
Westbrook, a former MVP and perennial All-Star, struggled to fit into the Lakers’ system, which was largely built around LeBron’s playmaking abilities.
Westbrook’s style of play, which relies heavily on ball-handling and creating offense, clashed with LeBron’s own role as the primary facilitator.
As a result, Westbrook’s performance was scrutinized relentlessly.
His shooting struggles and turnovers were magnified in the media, and fans quickly turned on him.
Meanwhile, LeBron largely escaped criticism, even though the decision to bring Westbrook to Los Angeles was reportedly one that LeBron himself pushed for.
By the end of Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers, his reputation had taken a significant hit.
He went from being a max-contract player to a free agent whose value had plummeted.
As Scalabrine pointed out, Westbrook became the “fall guy” for the Lakers’ struggles, even though many of the team’s issues extended far beyond his individual performance.
The Consistent Pattern: Teammates’ Reputations Decline
This pattern extends beyond Love, Bosh, and Westbrook. Kyrie Irving, another former teammate, faced a different kind of scrutiny while playing with LeBron in Cleveland.
Though Irving hit the biggest shot in the 2016 NBA Finals, he was still often seen as the sidekick to LeBron, and when he wanted to leave Cleveland to forge his own path, he was painted as selfish and difficult to work with.
The media narrative framed Irving’s departure as problematic, rather than acknowledging that he wanted to lead his own team after years of playing in LeBron’s shadow.
Anthony Davis, who joined LeBron in Los Angeles, also found himself under a microscope.
After the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship, Davis was hailed as one of the best players in the league.
However, when the team faltered in subsequent seasons, the narrative quickly shifted.
Davis was criticized for his lack of consistency and durability, with much of the blame for the Lakers’ struggles placed squarely on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, LeBron’s leadership and performance were rarely questioned.
Conclusion: A Legacy with Complexities
LeBron James’ legacy is as complex as it is legendary. While his on-court achievements are undeniable, the growing criticism regarding how his teammates are treated cannot be ignored.
The narrative that LeBron improves his teammates has been challenged time and again by the stories of those who have played alongside him.
From Kevin Love to Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving to Russell Westbrook, many have seen their reputations tarnished in the process of playing with LeBron.
Whether this is a calculated effort by the media, a byproduct of LeBron’s greatness, or simply the price of playing alongside a superstar, remains open for debate.
What is clear, however, is that LeBron James is fully aware of this narrative — and for better or worse, it’s one that has shaped much of his career.
Only time will tell how this narrative will evolve, but for now, it remains a significant aspect of the conversation surrounding LeBron’s storied NBA journey.
