Best of LeBron Part 2: Real reason Bron Left Miami + Haters claim the King doesn’t have a “Bag”!

Summary

Podcast Summary: Club Shay Shay - "Best of LeBron Part 2: Real reason Bron Left Miami + Haters claim the King doesn’t have a 'Bag'!"

Release Date: July 9, 2025

Host: Shannon Sharpe (NFL Legend)

Guest: Ocho Cinco

---

1. Introduction

In this compelling episode of Club Shay Shay, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe engages in a deep-dive conversation with Ocho Cinco, focusing on LeBron James' illustrious career. They explore the nuanced reasons behind LeBron's departure from the Miami Heat and tackle the ongoing debate about his standing in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) conversation, particularly addressing the criticism that LeBron lacks sufficient championship rings ("bag").

---

2. The GOAT Debate: Championships and MVPs

Shannon Sharpe opens the discussion by emphasizing the significance of championships and MVP awards in the GOAT debate.

• Shannon Sharpe [01:07]: "That's how you get into the goat debate is rings."

He argues that while individual accolades like MVPs are important, championships solidify a player's legacy. Ocho Cinco counters by highlighting LeBron's consistent performance and versatility.

• Ocho Cinco [02:02]: "He's in a category of his own."

Despite acknowledging LeBron's greatness, Shannon maintains that without more rings, LeBron's position in the GOAT conversation remains contested.

• Shannon Sharpe [02:23]: "So my argument is, how would we be able to say LeBron is a goat with just two rings when Kobe has five, when Duncan has five, when Kareem has five, when Jordan has six..."

---

3. LeBron's Tenure with the Miami Heat

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around LeBron's decision to join the Miami Heat and its impact on his career trajectory.

• Shannon Sharpe [05:56]: "LeBron's averaged 25 points. ... But averaging 27, 7, and 7 ain't the same as what he did in Miami."

Shannon argues that LeBron's time in Miami was pivotal, adding to his championship count and refining his game, which in turn elevated his status in the GOAT debate.

• Ocho Cinco [06:10]: "But I still think your knowledge of the game of basketball is much better than I am."

They discuss how LeBron's championships in Miami, coupled with additional MVPs, have reshaped perceptions of his legacy.

---

4. Hypothetical Scenarios: LeBron on Other Teams

The hosts explore speculative scenarios about what LeBron could have achieved had he chosen different teams.

• Ocho Cinco [11:57]: "Pat should have let him be there."

• Shannon Sharpe [12:15]: "Well you had at the time, you had D. Rose, you had no Joachim Noah, you had Gibson."

They consider other potential team dynamics and whether LeBron could have secured more championships elsewhere, ultimately acknowledging the unpredictability of sports outcomes.

---

5. Pat Riley's Influence and Team Dynamics

A key discussion point is Pat Riley's management style with the Miami Heat and its influence on team dynamics and LeBron's experience.

• Dwyane Wade [26:12]: "This was the first moment where I had an inkling that LeBron may not be back. One thing you don't do is with LeBron cookies."

Dwyane Wade shares an anecdote about an incident involving LeBron's favorite snacks, symbolizing deeper tensions within the team.

• Shannon Sharpe [27:27]: "You took the man cookies... trying to prove I run the show."

This exchange underscores potential power struggles and disagreements that may have contributed to LeBron's decision to leave Miami.

---

6. LeBron's Longevity and Consistency

Shannon and Ocho Cinco commend LeBron's remarkable longevity and consistent performance throughout his career.

• Shannon Sharpe [36:05]: "We've done that since he was getting to the league as an 18-year-old rookie."

• Rio [39:19]: "The way he takes care of his body... attests to his longevity."

They highlight LeBron's dedication to physical fitness, injury prevention, and maintaining high performance levels, which are crucial factors in his sustained success.

---

7. Comparisons with Other NBA Stars

The discussion shifts to comparing LeBron with contemporaries like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, analyzing their skills and contributions to the game.

• Shannon Sharpe [40:44]: "Giannis has five first team, all defensive, four first team. Kevin has two finals MVPs..."

• Rio [40:14]: "I don't think it's possible."

They debate who has a more significant impact on the game, considering factors like All-NBA selections, MVPs, and championship success.

---

8. Handling Criticism and Social Media Scrutiny

LeBron's presence on social media and the resultant criticisms are addressed, particularly the notion that he doesn't have a "bag."

• Shannon Sharpe [46:14]: "What else you gonna say about that?"

They discuss how LeBron manages negative comments and maintains his focus despite external pressures, reinforcing his achievements beyond public criticism.

---

9. Impact on the Game and Legacy

Concluding the episode, Shannon and Ocho Cinco reflect on LeBron's overall impact on basketball and his enduring legacy.

• Shannon Sharpe [51:36]: "What's the most impressive thing that LeBron is doing currently?"

• Rio [39:37]: "Just the longevity of, you know, being that consistent of no injuries, no major injuries, bouncing back, and still being healthy enough to do what you do in and do every day."

They reaffirm that LeBron's combination of individual excellence, leadership, and longevity cements his place as one of the greatest players in basketball history, despite ongoing debates.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Shannon Sharpe [02:02]: "That's how you get into the goat debate is rings."

• Dwyane Wade [26:12]: "One thing you don't do is with LeBron cookies."

• Shannon Sharpe [27:27]: "You took the man cookies... trying to prove I run the show."

• Rio [39:19]: "The way he takes care of his body... attests to his longevity."

• Shannon Sharpe [46:14]: "What else you gonna say about that?"

• Shannon Sharpe [51:36]: "What's the most impressive thing that LeBron is doing currently?"

---

Conclusion

This episode of Club Shay Shay offers an insightful exploration into LeBron James' career decisions, his standing in the GOAT conversation, and the multifaceted reasons behind his departure from the Miami Heat. Through engaging dialogue and thoughtful analysis, Shannon Sharpe and Ocho Cinco provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of LeBron's legacy, addressing both his triumphs and the criticisms he faces.

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For those interested in further discussions and in-depth analyses of top athletes, be sure to listen to the full episode available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Greg Rosenthal]

Who are the 25 greatest football players to grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing episode NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all star cast of media personalities, including Mina Kimes, Steve Wych, Kevin Harlan, and more. For a look at football's best since the turn of the century. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years, starting on June 30 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever. Get your podcast.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, no, no, no, no. Ain't no contention. You got to win it. Hold on. It can't be contention because he went to the finals four years in Cleveland. He won one.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's only won one title in la. He's been here five years. So we can't automatically assume, because that's hypothetical. We can't. Let's deal with what we know. O. We got to deal with what we know. And that's what I'm saying, because now we. Without those two extra MVPs, regular season, without those two extra Finals MVPs, guess who else you bring into the equation? One. Stephen Curry.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because Steph has four. Yeah. Chips. Steph has two. Mvp. MVP and a final mvp. So now let's just say, for the sake of argument, LeBron has two regular season MVPs, two Finals MVPs.

[Ocho Cinco]

MVPs. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Are we looking at LeBron the same way?

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, we are.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, we're not.

[Ocho Cinco]

He's different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Ocho Cinco]

He'S different. So are you basing his greatness solely on MVPs and titles?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, but. But that's how you get into the goat debate is rings. Remember rings? No. What are we saying? You and I both said you can be great. And not having. Charles Barkley was a great player. Karl Malone was a great player. John Stockton was a great player.

[Ocho Cinco]

We can't. We can't put. We can't put them on the same stratosphere, on the same pedestal as LeBron.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But let me ask you a question.

[Ocho Cinco]

He's in a category of his own.

[Shannon Sharpe]

With Michael Jordan, but what does he have? Rings. Rings. Ocho. Right.

[Ocho Cinco]

I. I understand what you're saying. But even. Still. Just even. Even. Even without the rings. Dude, dude, he's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He's no oo. He would. Without the rings, he's not in the goat conversation. Without the rings, he's not in the goat conversation. So you see, he's out of it. He's out of it. It's not even a debate. See, for me, I don't put anybody. I don't put. If you look at my top five, my top five, you have to have at least three regular season MVPs. That's how I took it. Three.

[Ocho Cinco]

So let me ask you a question. Yes, he had the scoring title.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Ocho Cinco]

But he wasn't able to win any rings or championships.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He couldn't be considered. He wasn't even close. He wouldn't even. They would know he don't have any rings. He wouldn't be in the conversation. How. So how would you put him with no rings? Hold on, Ocho, think about this here.

[Ocho Cinco]

Is it different for football then?

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Ocho Cinco]

So the players that were great, that have never won a ring, does that mean they're not great? They're not in the conversation? Because as.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Game.

[Ocho Cinco]

Game.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No. Here's the thing. But here's the thing. When you look at quarterbacks, name a quarterback is Brady. Montana is. It's Manning.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, when we see. And this is what we talk about, the levels. This is what we talking about. Goats. Because you can be great and not. And not have rings. You canyon. I believe that. I believe you can be great and not have ring. Charles Barkley was a great player.

[Ocho Cinco]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Look at how we looked at Kevin Durant. Look at Scott not. Excuse me, I take that back. I'm talking about Kevin. Look at how we looked at Kevin Garnett right before and then after he got that ring. You see the difference? Look at how we looked at it. Look at how we look at how we looked at Dirk Navisky. Yeah. Before and after he got the ring. So my argument is, how would we be able to say LeBron is a goat with just two rings when Kobe has five, when Duncan has five, when Kareem has five, when Jordan has six, when Magic has five. And all the guys that I mentioned are Jordan. Jordan has six, has five regular season MVPs, Magic has three regular season MVPs, with three Finals MVPs. So you're right. But I don't believe without Miami, because here's the thing we saw. I believe, and I think everybody out there believe, had Kevin Durant got. Not gotten hurt in 2019, Toronto not beating them.

[Ocho Cinco]

No, absolutely not.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you see what could happen. You see what could happen. One injury changed the landscape.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You see what happened with Kevin Durant, with LeBron, Kyrie and Kevin Love got hurt. Changed the whole complexion of the series, didn't it?

[Ocho Cinco]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Kevin Durant in Brooklyn. Kyrie gets hurt. James Harden is dealing with a hamstring. You see how things gotta be. Now, this is what we know for LeBron. He's averaged 25 points. He's never scored less than 25 points in the season since his rookie year. He averages 27, 7 and 7. I believe he goes anywhere else and still averages 27, 7 and 7.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But averaging 27, 7 and 7 ain't the same as what he did in Miami. And when he got two more MVPs back to back, two more finals MVPs back to back, it changed the way we looked at him.

[Ocho Cinco]

But I still. I'm telling you, I still think your knowledge of the game of basketball is much better than I am. You, Me, as an outsider watching in. I think regardless of what LeBron tweeted, minus Les Rings, minus Les Strings, my ass. I have a feeling that he could have went to any team, any NBA team, obviously, with. With a supporting cast, an efficient supporting cast, and done the exact same thing he did in Miami. I. I know. I know he could have. I know he could have. Because he's that special of a player. He's that special.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How do we know? Because, remember, it takes more than just scoring to win a title.

[Ocho Cinco]

A lot of think about it speaks for itself.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ocho. Think about how close they came to losing a title. There was a Ray Allen backpedal behind the three. Three, the greatest shot in NBA history.

[Ocho Cinco]

Clutch.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just to survive, right? So for us to sit here and say, well, he could have gone anywhere else and won anything. It's really not that simple, Ocho, not for a championship. Is it that simple for him to go somewhere and average 27, 7 and 7, or to average 30 like he did for the Lakers two years ago, and like, he averaged 29 last year. Sure, he. That he. That he's LeBron. He the GOAT. And I said, what made me put him there is that when I factored in the regular season MVPs, I factored in the Finals MVPs at three different stops. Now, Ocho, 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 10,000 assists. You factor in all the first team, all NBAs, you factor in all the all star appearances, you start factoring all of that. This is just not a longevity because There are a lot of guys that played, not a lot of guys. I think there are nine guys that played a total of 20 years or more, but they averaging four points. He ain't going to average four. He going to end up averaging what he. I don't. I don't know if he averaged 27, but he'll probably be around 24, 25 points a game. And you're 21.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So it's not. I think the thing is, Ocho, I think what. The reason. What. What caught people so far off guard is that this is a totally different audience, espn, than when I was at Undisputed, right? And if you watch me on Undisputed, you know that I've criticized some of the things LeBron has done, be at a play, some of the things that he said. I think that people had this perception that all I do is Kate, cake, cake, cake, cake for LeBron, right? And that's not true. I don't believe any player. I don't believe any person is beyond reproach. I don't believe a prayer. Any player or any person is a Beyond criticism, right? Because if you have. Being who you are, criticism comes along with it, right? If you don't want the criticism, you should not take the praise. Yeah, LeBron is great. He's still, in my estimation, to go, but I believe it took that Miami stint to put him on the path now, going back to Cleveland, going to four more, winning an mvp, going to the Lakers, winning another Finals mvp, and he's been dominant. He's been great. So they made it seem, like I say, LeBron was a bum man. If he ain't go to. And it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. Oo Miami benefited. LeBron benefited.

[Ocho Cinco]

Benefited.

[Shannon Sharpe]

A lot of times we. We just want to say, no, you benefited. But I like to think in a relationship, no matter if. If it. If it ended or not, we both got something out of it, right?

[Ocho Cinco]

I like that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's. That. That's. That's just me. Now, sometimes women like, I ain't getting nothing out of that. I ain't getting nothing, right? Okay, I took something, maybe if it wasn't up, but a damn good meal, I got something out of it, right?

[Ocho Cinco]

But that's a good one, man. That's a good one. But I'm. I'm telling you, I wholeheartedly believe he could have gone anywhere that was. He came to the heat, what, 20 was it?

[Shannon Sharpe]

2012, 2011, 2010? Because they ended up losing. Because. Think about it, Ocho, think about it now for me, had he won 2011 against the Mavericks, I don't even think, I don't even think it's a debate. I don't think it's a debate. A lot of people can't put LeBron in front of Jordan for the simple fact of, of 2011. They said, I just can't do it because I saw guys that were, that Jordan would have scored 60 on Joe. They're not putting J.J. barrea on Michael Jordan, they're not putting DeSean Stevenson on, on Michael Jordan. And so a lot of people can't get over that hurdle there.

[Ocho Cinco]

Right, Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I believe it took all of that to get him to what we see now, the finished product that we see now.

[Ocho Cinco]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Happened because of 2011.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, but the finished product would have been the same regards to where he was at because of who he is. Because of who he is, the finished product. You can't tell me. Well, if you didn't come to the Miami Heat, the finished product of what we're, what, what we're witnessing now, we wouldn't be who he is. It was still no.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you're saying, but you're saying individually. See, I'm not talking about individually.

[Ocho Cinco]

I still believe as well. I'm talking from a team aspect and, and having MVPs and championships. If he went somewhere else.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But here's the thing, done it. But think about it. Oo he's averaged probably look at that. He averaged 30, 29 last year, right. 2829 last year. 30 the year before they win no titles.

[Ocho Cinco]

I have a question, I have a question. This, this is something I don't have in front of me. He went to the heat in 2011, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes. Uh huh.

[Ocho Cinco]

I wish I had the rosters of the other team to choose from that he could have gone to. And I guarantee you could put at least five or six other teams he could have gone to and they would have been in the finals with an opportunity to win a championship and he had an opportunity to get those MVP finals, I guarantee you. I just don't have, I don't have the information in front of you right now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Off the top of my head, I think I can remember. I know Miami was one. He ended up going to Miami. I think the Knicks, but talking to Rich Paul. Knicks were never really in play. And I think Chicago.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh yes, yes. And I'm not sure, I'm not sure the rosters, but yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well you had at the time, you had D. Rose, you had no Joachim Noah, you had Gibson. Yeah, yeah. Because that year he won the MVP over LeBron.

[Ocho Cinco]

Come on, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you mean to tell me Jimmy Butler.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, championship, championship, mvp. And a ring with the Bulls that year. Yes. Come on, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But.

[Ocho Cinco]

There's no but about it. That's mvp. Championship. Trust me. And it's not even a hypothetical. I put. I put my life savings on that if it was to happen. I wish, I wish we could rewind time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We can't though.

[Ocho Cinco]

Prime D Rose, Jimmy Butler, Joaquim Noah and LeBron. And you mean to tell me they're not winning? No, Chip.

[Shannon Sharpe]

We never know. Have we seen Ocho. We've seen. Things happen. Just because you have the most talent. You've seen teams. Look, look at the Patriots. Patriots had the most talent. You remember in 2007. And the little old Giants barely made the playoffs. Got him. I mean, who, who would have thought the Dallas Mavericks would have beat the Miami Heat? Who would have thought the Detroit Pistons would have took. Taken down Shaq and Kobe? Oh, yeah, Think about that now.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, them boy. That was Ben Wallace and them boys, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ben Sheed, RIP Chant.

[Ocho Cinco]

They were playing some defense, boy.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And that's. And to see Ocho. That's what I say. You don't know, right? Let's. Let's deal. The only thing I can say for certain looking at LeBron James career is that pencil them in for 27, 7 and 7. Write it in the book. And I'm writing and I'm right and I'm writing it in, in non erasable ink. You can't erase it. That's what I know. But championships are a lot harder to come by. People keep talking about Jordan was. Jordan was six for six. Jordan played 15 years. So the other nine years he didn't get there.

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[Greg Rosenthal]

25 years, 25 players. Before training camp kickstarts a new NFL season, NFL Daily is going to look back. It is a special six episode series where myself, Greg Rosenthal and some of the top NFL minds like Kevin Harlan, Mina Kimes and Bill Barnwell make the case for each player. We're taking a look back giving you NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. So who made the list? You know, Tom Brady's on it. Where's Patrick?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mahomes is into the end zone. Touchdown, Kansas City City.

[Greg Rosenthal]

He's on it. How about Lamar Jackson?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jackson takes it himself. Look at him dart back and forth. Oh, he broke his ankles. And he's got a touchdown. He is Houdini.

[Greg Rosenthal]

You are gonna have to listen. To find out, listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years, starting on June 30th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mm, right.

[Ocho Cinco]

You right. Well, I have a question since we on the topic of basketball, on something that I need to gain a little bit. A little bit more knowledge about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Ocho Cinco]

What do the Lakers need outside of Anthony Davis staying healthy? They need one more. One more star.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They gotta hit some. I mean, it's the first time, I think, in NBA history, through the first eight games, they've made less field goals the three and shot a worse percentage in NBA history. They instituted early, though.

[Ocho Cinco]

It's still early.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They instituted a three point line in 1979. That was a year after you was born. That's when the three point line, Chris Ford made the very first three point shot. So think about that. Go back all the way back. They've been outscored by 74 points in the first quarter, which is the most in NBA history through this amount of games.

[Ocho Cinco]

Wait, score by. I'll score by. How much?

[Shannon Sharpe]

74.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, man, we gotta go to a Laker game. Man, how much courtside seats.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He made? Somebody always want to go to the. You want to go to the Miami Heat? I mean, with Pat riley, with them. 19. With them, 1955 rules.

[Q]

Hey, listen, it ain't. It ain't. It ain't bad as you think it is, man. People make. Listen, when you look at. Look at the guys that go there. They have some of their best years of their careers when they go there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And look at the guys leave. I saw Dwyane Wade leave. I saw Jimmy Butler leave. I saw LeBron James leave. Now that's three of the best players that you've had in the last 15 years. Now, tell me what I don't know, Q.

[Q]

What you don't know?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, hold on, hold on. I'm gonna let him finish up. You could, you could chime in after him. Q.

[Q]

We all got family, right?

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Q]

Sometimes. Sometimes you get mad at your auntie or your uncle or your cousin or even your mamboy, your brother or sister, right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I like that.

[Ocho Cinco]

I like where you going.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I ain't leaving him.

[Q]

Hey, look, he didn't leave for good. He left and went over his auntie house, and then he came back over here, back to uncle's house. He came back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Come on. Okay, you think Jimmy coming back?

[Q]

I didn't say Jimmy came back. I was talking about D. Wade. When we said that. When we was talking.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. Okay. What about LeBron? LeBron going back to Miami?

[Q]

No, I said family.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I'm saying the mere fact that family left, if I leave the house, yeah, I might come back when I'm on hard times.

[Q]

D. Wade was a different type of family. Like, D. Wade was drafted homegrown there. That's Dade County.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And he left.

[Q]

You can't say the same for LeBron or Jimmy. So it wasn't that same type of thing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Shoot.

[Q]

He left and came back and they both admitted that it was some wrongdoings and reasons why they left. And they came together and pieced up and it's all love.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, this is for him.

[Q]

This ain't mine.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's all love. But I see D. Wade is part owner in the Utah Jazz. He's sitting courtside of Utah Jazz. Why isn't he sitting courtside at Miami? His family now.

[Q]

No, no, Time out, Time out. D. Wade do be sitting courtside in Miami. He got a statue in Miami.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And he.

[Q]

He's a boss.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And deservedly so.

[Q]

The smart businessman.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And deservedly so. But we can't act, we can't pretend like people do not aren't fed up with Pat Riley in those archaic ways. Q, that's not being true. You hear it.

[Q]

But it go two ways, though. You gotta understand that some of those same ways that people being critical of are the reasons for some of the most brilliant careers that you talk about. The best version of LeBron James that you know was right there under those archaic rules. Tell me I'm wrong.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I still like LeBron when he went back to Cleveland.

[Q]

No, you ask anybody in the league that LeBron James them two years back to back, Please, Please. That was. That was hell on wheels, boy. You hear me? Like, please, you talking about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay, okay, let's say that. Okay. And then what made LeBron leave?

[Q]

Both sides?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay, he had his best years. And then what made LeBron leave? You got that during the 27 game winning streak. What happened?

[Q]

Q. I don't know. I didn't heard a lot.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know what happened?

[Q]

I heard about cookies being taken away. I heard about all type of stuff. But I also heard that some of the same things that he ran from that he tried to take with him and bring and bestow on these other organizations when he went there. So it wasn't all bad.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You already listen. You already know Rich. Mav is going to be there every day. Mav is my chief of staff. Not Mav. Excuse me. What's the other one? Randy. Randy's going to be there. Have you ever seen LeBron James anywhere without Randy? I have not. Whether it's out in Vegas, whether. Whatever the case may be, Randy is going to be there, you know, so.

[Q]

Pat should have let him be there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, he going to be there. You want it. You going to be there. Don't want him. But, you know, hello. You already know what you. When you sign up, if you get Giannis. What you see where the Giannis brother is? Where he at?

[Q]

Hey, time out. Time out, though. You just said you already know what you get when you sign up, right? So you can't say that and then say that. LeBron came to Miami as a free agent knowing. Knowing that the Godfather was the Godfather, and the Godfather do what the Godfather does, and he always has. You signed up for that?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I did, but not for to be petty and take some damn cookies away. I ain't tending. Listen, you took the cookie away like I didn't clean up my damn room.

[Q]

It could have been a headband. It could have been anything. But the cookies is what set it up. But, like, this is what you signed up for when you signed up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nah.

[Q]

Mm.

[Ocho Cinco]

Mm.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I ain't signed up for this. I signed up to come down here to get structured. I wanted to play with D. Wade, Chris Bosh, and, okay, he's posting.

[Q]

He got you two championships, and it showed you how to go on the rest of the way and be a champion.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hold on. We talking about. We talk about the heat of the old. Let's talk about the new heat. Let's talk about the new heat.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It doesn't matter. It's still Pat running it.

[Q]

Don't think they about to get somebody.

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, yeah, I've been telling. I already know.

[Q]

That's what you. That's what you. That's. That's what people always understood and knew Pat Riley, the Godfather, is always one move away. How did he like Shaq and then they won a championship. Like they. He always willing to swing for the fences and do what needs to be.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Done, but he don't have the draft capital to do it. What are you gonna do? I think about it, he couldn't get Kevin Durant. He could get Dame Lillard. So in Order to get, let's just say for the sake of argument, Kevin Durant. What do you think it's gonna take for him to get Kevin Durant? He gonna have to give up the hero and Bam. Then what? Who can he get? Giannis?

[Q]

I don't think so.

[Ocho Cinco]

I told. I told you who we're going to get. I told you. I already told you already. I told iq I sat down with Pat Riley and Mickey Harrison. I done told Robert Horry, I done talked to ISO. Joe. I done told Joe already. And I'm telling you. I'm telling you, too. I talked to Pat, I sat down with Mickey Harrison, and we gonna get Giannis and we gonna get John Moran.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm trying to figure out what are you. But see, here's the thing. Listen. There are only a handful of team that have the pieces. They want assets because they gave up all those assets to get said players queue. You know how this thing works. A lot of time, like, man, I want to go over there. And when you get there, they had to. They had to gut it to get you. And so now you there in the same situation you in where you left from. They're not going to be able to. I don't see how they get to Kevin Durant in Miami and keep Bam and Tyler hero. Oh, you talk about, I want Duncan Robinson and Highsmith.

[Q]

And you'd be surprised what. What these deals shake out once these players step out and say that they want to be moved. We seen like, guys ain't been, like, been yielding what you thought. Like, when you look at what Rudy Gobert got in his trade and then.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The trade, he got four first rounders.

[Q]

Yeah. What started happening after he did that? Nobody was getting all of them first rounders. And it was looking how, like, how did Rudy get. You get Rudy for all of this and you get such and such for all of that, that it wasn't going the same way. They're not giving as much up. Especially when these teams, like when you get put in that pigeonhole, like a player come out and say, hey, I want out.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I want out. Like, you done. You done.

[Q]

They like, we ain't gotta. We ain't gotta be at your beck and call because we are basically helping you at this point because your dude just said he won't out. So no matter what happens, you gotta get out or you got. You. Your situation is blown up. So at that point, if they exhausted to a certain point, it'll get bad.

[Ocho Cinco]

See, I told you, huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

But here's the thing. Why did it get that bad? Why didn't get that bad? They couldn't make pull the trigger for Dame Lillard.

[Q]

That question. I mean, I don't know the answer to that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I thought that.

[Q]

I thought that was a done deal like everybody else.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They didn't want to give up Tyler Hero. I don't. I don't see a scenario where a team doesn't get Tyler Hero back as a piece. Do you see that scenario?

[Q]

You never know, man. I didn't see it. I didn't see. I didn't see a scenario on the planet where Dallas was trading Luka, but look what happened. Yeah, so I didn't learn my lesson. Like, I didn't see Shaq get traded. You know what I'm saying? M.J. left the Bulls. Like anything can happen in the right circumstances. They'll do whatever they feel is the best. That's just how I go. And then they gonna tell you that's good business. You know what I'm saying? This is what's best for the organization. That's why I don't be mad when players go do what they got to do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't see it. People have been talking. People been. Pat Riley supposed to have done. Had Kevin Durant. When Kevin Durant was a free agent, when Kevin Durant got traded, when Kevin Durant was a free agent and Golden State, he didn't go. He didn't. Well, LeBron was there, so he couldn't go there. Okay. When he became. When he goes to the Knicks, I mean, the Nets, then what? No Pat Riley, he gets traded to Phoenix, still no Miami Heat. I mean, at some point time, Ocho, you need to give up. Oh. D. Wade says the first moment he thought LeBron might leave Miami is when Pat Riley took his cookies. Let's take a listen to what D. Wade had to say.

[Ocho Cinco]

That was funny moment that I.

[Dwyane Wade]

This was the first moment where I had an inkling that LeBron may not be back. One thing you don't do do is with LeBron cookies. No, no, no, no, no. This is serious. Like, he loves chocolate chip cookies. Like chocolate chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. He loves.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Dwyane Wade]

And so when he gets on the plane, Brian walks on the plane with a bag of food. One bag is all cookies, and other bags are what his chef has prepared for him to eat. Cause he eats a certain way. He don't eat what's on the plane. Yeah, but, you know, he have his cookies. So we get on the. We get on the. We get on the plane and we play cards. At the front of the plane, we play cards. And then at some point, Bron be like, hey, bring me those cookies. And this one day he was like, hey, where my cookies at? And they had to come up there and whisper in his ear and tell them there were no more cookies on the plane. Yeah, that sat back away from the game. He pushed that table that cars back. He sat there quiet, doing his head like this. I was looking, I'm like.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He ain't.

[Dwyane Wade]

Play cards no more. He sat there like this.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hey, you see? You see what that calls Pat Riley. See, Pat Riley's trying to, trying to show I run the show, not look at you.

[Ocho Cinco]

That's too much.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He doing too much.

[Ocho Cinco]

You don't.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You mean to tell me you trying to prove a point? So you take the man cookies.

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[Greg Rosenthal]

25 years, 25 players. Before training camp kickstarts a new NFL season, NFL Daily is going to look back. It is a special six episode series where myself, Greg Rosenthal and some of the top NFL minds like Kevin Harlan, Mina Kimes and Bill Barnwell make the case for each player. We're taking a look back giving you NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. So who made the list? You know, Tom Brady's on it. Where's Patrick?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mahomes is into the end zone. Touchdown Kansas City.

[Greg Rosenthal]

He's on it. How about Lamar Jackson?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Jackson takes it himself. Look at him. Dirt back and forth. Oh, oh, he broke his ankles and he's got a touchdown. He is Houdini.

[Greg Rosenthal]

You are gonna have to listen to find out. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ocho Cinco]

Hey, you never bother a person's never bother person's flow in which way they travel. A routine in which they like to eat, in which they like to prepare. You never do that. That has nothing to do with the game of basketball. I understand trying to set a precedent. I understand control, you know, but over abusing your power cookies. Ocho, come on now.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You took the man cookies.

[Ocho Cinco]

So, hey, I have a question. Do you think there's a chance you think that might have been the last straw?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, because, look, there are some things that LeBron wanted, like Maverick and Randy potentially traveling on the planes, having access like that he had in Cleveland, so forth and so on. We know Pat Riley limited, that if he didn't nix it all together. Okay, fine, probably. But here's the thing. You knew that when he came in there, because LeBron Team LeBron's going to lay out what he expects, Right? When he went to the Lakers, he told Magic, Randy, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, go be on a plane, go travel rich, father married. Okay. Do you want. I'm sure, when Tom Brady went to Tampa. Yeah, I need my guy to be here. I need him to have him be able to set up so forth and so on. Okay. You knew that. You knew that. You get the man there. It's almost like a recruiting visit. Oh, yeah. You gonna start? You gonna start once I get your ass on campus. You done sign that letter of intent? I do what the hell I wanna do now. You can't do that anymore. Cause them guys jump in the portal on your ass. Oh, excuse me. They jump in the portal on your tail, Ocho, and then you in trouble. But I don't get this Pat Riley. I mean, there are some things that he said about. He was telling Phil Jackson and Phil Jackson he got up, like, LeBron wanted to stay, and then like for Thanksgiving, blah, blah, blah. And I just. But I can see now. I can see now. To do that, that's petty. That's you trying to show I run the show.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, I mean, see, and that's unnecessary because think about LeBron, Stan, a few extra years in Miami, how many more rings do they get? But you sacrifice that because you want to prove a point in showing that you're in a position and you want to over. Over abuse it. And even now, the stuff with Jimmy Butler.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yep.

[Ocho Cinco]

I'm not saying Jimmy's right. I'm not saying Pat is wrong, because internally I'm not there. But there's always an issue where there's a power struggle. It shouldn't be a power struggle. You want to do one thing, everybody. The main thing should be the main thing. If you're part of the Miami Heat, Pat Riley's main goal should want to be winning championships and having the best to do so.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Ocho, if cookies were the issue, do you know how many cookies will be on that damn plane?

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, I got you. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Do you know?

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What? What? Where do you want the cookies from? Are these gourmet cookies that we need to go to a special shop or these regular Chips Ahoy, or some type of chocolate chip that we can buy from a local grocery store. Right. I just need to know LeBron, what it is. Because I promise you, there is not a superstar player in any sport. Let me ask you a question. If Shaohei Tani shows up and says he wants something special, they're gonna have. If he says there's a Japanese cuisine that I need to have before every game and I need to make sure when we travel I have it, I guarantee you they gonna have it.

[Ocho Cinco]

Absolutely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

If Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, if whatever superstar player, if Shay goes to okc, I don't know what the delicacy is in Oklahoma. I've only been there once. But I guarantee you, if Shea says, I want this on the plane, we gonna have that. I mean, little old me. I said, mike, we wanna watch the fight. Mike would have it. Mike, we won't need this on the plane. Mike would get it. You mean to tell me you took LeBron James cookies? For what?

[Ocho Cinco]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

If the man's. If the man. If LeBron's overweight. I see. Hey, bro, you need to cut back on these.

[Ocho Cinco]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

When has LeBron James not been in shape? We marvel at his body in year 22. Pause. We've done that since he was getting to the league as an 18 year old rookie.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's not a time that LeBron has not been in shape. But like you said, this was a power trip.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You won the battle, you lost the war, Pat.

[Ocho Cinco]

That's unfortunate. That's unfortunate. Now we don't even have a chance to come out East. I think we. Matter of fact, we still coming out East. Go ahead.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, you're not. Y' all can't beat Boston. Y' all can't beat Cleveland. Y' all can't beat the Nets. What?

[Ocho Cinco]

We can't what?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Beat Boston, Cleveland or the Knicks? Not in a seven game series. Y' all might win a game, but y' all ain't winning seven games. Y' all not winning four games.

[Ocho Cinco]

I know. I just want to get excited. I just want to get excited. We need two more pieces.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you hear how D. Wade explains it. D. Wade said he knew he was upset, so that man pushed back from the table and he didn't play cards no more.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah. Yeah. That's mess. Don't. Don't mess up my routine. Don't mess up a routine that I'm probably. Think about how long he. LeBron been doing that routine of having those cookies on that flight.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes, yes. Man.

[Ocho Cinco]

Man, let me get up out of here.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I mean, I've heard this is not. D. Wade is not the first person that I've heard LeBron crazy about chocolate chip cookies, right? And to do that, I thought that was petty. I think it was unnecessary. But I think it was Pat Riley trying to prove a point that I run this show, and if I don't want no cookies on this plane, ain't gonna be no damn cookies on this plane. And LeBron says, you know what? You right this your ish.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah, I take my show on the road.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And he did exactly that. Shobs is predicting that LeBron LeBron's next season, the NBA, will be his last, which will be a poetic end to number 23. Year 23. For number 23, they have the All Star weekend in Los Angeles. So to me, it's a very storybook, if that's the way it goes, but that's a decision he's got to make. Rio, you just watched a man in year 22 make second team all NBA. If you'd have. If he'd have made first team, I don't think anybody's mad if you put him in over Donovan Mitchell. Donovan got in Blessed. He averaged 24, 8 and 8. He doesn't really have to do the heavy lifting anymore because of Luca. So he's. He and AR is still there. So now you put him in the dunker spot, you let him play off the ball, he's still going to be in the 20 points. How long do you think LeBron wants to play? How long is he going to play?

[Rio]

I've always said he was going to play till Bryce got in the league. So when Bryce goes to Arizona next.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Year, that'll be year 23. So in order for him to play with Bryce, it's got to be 24.

[Rio]

So I give him 24. 25.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. And if you get 24, you gotta buy. It's like, I ain't worried about nobody getting 25 years.

[Rio]

And if you get the 25, you might as well get 30. Nobody can hold up, so you might.

[Shannon Sharpe]

As well keep going at 20. 23, that'll be 41, 24, that'll be 42, 25, that'll be 43. That's the same age Tom Brady was when he retired. 20.

[Rio]

You know, 25 years in one profession, that's. That's. That's legit.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's a long man. You a doctor, a lawyer, you get that Many times. Or. Or you in the damn military.

[Rio]

Exactly.

[Ocho Cinco]

So, you know, it's not only not only to play that long, but to.

[Rio]

Be dominant that long, to play at.

[Ocho Cinco]

That level, be consistent, and be one of the best.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The average 24 points a game. In year 22, there are some guys that didn't average 24 points for a career. There are some guys that didn't. Didn't. I mean, never had a season in which they averaged 24. This guy's in year 22 doing that, right? When you look. Re. When you. When you look at it, look. Been around the game. Your dad coached a game, so you've been around basketball all your life. What do you think is the most impressive thing that you. That what LeBron is doing? Is it the year 22? Is it the ability to go out there and still give you average 24, to go out there and give you a game where he can give you 30 average, you know, for a week, give you 30 straight, go get you 40? What do you think is the most impressive thing at this juncture? We look all the 21 time, first team, all NBA, 21 times all star, so we get all that. But I'm talking about what you're witnessing now. What do you think the most impressive thing that you've seen him and you was with him for four years. You watched him every single day come in, getting shots up, run cold tub, massage. You saw it all real. What do you think the most impressive thing that LeBron is doing currently?

[Rio]

I always said that the way he take care of his body, the way he pay attention to his treatment and stay on schedule with that, that attests to his longevity and never really being hurt or having a major injury. So just the way his body is holding up, his skill set is going to be his skill set. He puts the work in. You see him putting the work in after games or after practices, he's always the last one shooting or someone getting up shots or working on different moves. So the way what he puts into the game is what he gets out, and also what he puts into his body is what he's getting out of his body. So to me, it's just the longevity of, you know, being that consistent of no injuries, no major injuries, bouncing back, and still being healthy enough to do what you do in and do every day.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You was with him, LeBron got there. So you was there, you was with him 11, 12, 13, 14. Did you have. When you was there with him, did you have any idea that LeBron James would still be playing 12 years later.

[Rio]

No lie. I did. Just because, like, I tell people this all the time. Bron would really get treatment if he was in the club. Like, he would literally have something on his knees or something on his back inside the club. So it's like once somebody's doing that, like, that's real dedication to just be in the club with treatment, ice therapy or whatever.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Hold on. Real. This man got ice bags. Not ice bags.

[Rio]

They be like the stem machine where it's like shooting electrolyte or electricity in your knees and stuff like that. Just hamstrings, like low. He always got something that's recovering, making his body recover. So that's the thing. It's like, once you see that, like, that's a different type of dedication. Like, I'm not. I have to take my hat off to that one.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Giannis has now more first team all NBA selections than Kevin Durant. Giannis has seven, KD has six. What more does Giannis need to do to pass KD all time?

[Rio]

I don't think it's possible.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Really.

[Rio]

I don't think it's possible. Just because I look at Katie's skill set and like, there's nobody going to be as skill set as Katie ball handling be able to shoot the ball better, get to the spots he's going to get to. I don't think there's going to be another Greek freak either. But Giannis's offensive game is not polished enough like KD's for him to be.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you just look at. Aesthetically, I'm just looking at.

[Rio]

When I look at somebody and I say, who's better than somebody? I look at, I put them in a one on one matchup and see who, who would dominate in that one on one matchup to the game to five. And I think KD will get Giannis 5, 4, 5, 3. Maybe I just got him figured just offensively better.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow. What happens if Giannis gets the ball first?

[Rio]

Same thing. I think KD still figured out how to win. I think Katie gets to stop before one on one because Giannis is all downhill. Now we playing three or four.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Exactly. So how can you stop that playing.

[Rio]

Three or four dribbles downhill.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh.

[Rio]

You know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

We play. We play. Now you gotta tell me the rules. You gotta tell me the rules. Yeah. NBA players play.

[Rio]

We play one on one, three or four dribbles, max. So in that type of setting, I'm not taking Giannis over KD. I'm not taking too many people over KD in that type of setting.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. Giannis has five first team, all defensive, four first team. Katie has none. Katie has. Does have two finals MVP. Giannis has one. It's. Huh. No, Doug Giannis has two regular season MVPs. Katie has one. That's gonna be very. That's gonna be very interesting. That's gonna be very interesting when their careers.

[Rio]

You're gonna have a hell of a career. Like that's. That's the thing. But it's still. You're not better than kd, I think.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think. You know what? I think a lot of that has to do with aesthetically, because we like guys that can handle the ball shoe flashy. I mean, there's nothing like really. Yanis game is really like old school, like the 70, you know, just trying to get down here post. I mean, yeah, he still. I mean, he don't three point. He doesn't shoot that well. He ain't really got no mid range. His post is not great. He's basically getting downhill, laying the ball up. You fouing or he's spinning dunk the ball. That's Giannis. It's still hard to stop because he's averaging 30, shooting 60% from the damn floor. So it's still hard to stop.

[Rio]

He's still a freak.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's just not as.

[Rio]

He's still a freak athlete.

[Shannon Sharpe]

It's just not as pleasing to the eye is what we watch KD do.

[Ocho Cinco]

And you comparing two different players and two different skill sets all together. And at that point, regardless of accolades and what they've accomplished on their resume, it depends on. It's all on preference at that point.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah, I, I see that. I see that. It's, it's. But whose impact. Who's impacted the game more?

[Ocho Cinco]

Oh, that's.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Damn.

[Ocho Cinco]

They're the same almost, huh?

[Rio]

Yeah, I think that's a tough one right there.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because let me ask you this. If I take. If I take KD out and put Giannis in there with Clay, Steph and Draymond, do you still believe they win the NBA championship?

[Rio]

Yeah, yeah, I still get to. I don't think about the scoring aspect, but yeah, I still give it to him because then that way you take IG Donald doesn't have to guard Brown by himself. Now you got two or three bodies that can guard Braun, and that's going to be a little bit different. So, yeah, I still give it to Golden State.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Now, if I take KD and I put him on Milwaukee the year they won. The year they won, they beat Phoenix, you think they still win the championship with KD and Giannis out?

[Rio]

I mean, they barely put got past Brooklyn, so. Oh, yeah, I. I think so. I. I definitely think so. Kd, if he didn't step on that line, Milwaukee don't win that championship.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's. That's gonna be. When it's all said done, that's gonna be a very interesting conversation. That's gonna be a very, very interesting conversation to have. Because they are so diametrically different, nothing about one's game reminds you of the other one is. As you said, Rio is one of the most skilled players, one of the five most skilled players that we've probably ever seen. With this size, being 7 foot tall, being able to handle the ball, he could shoot the three. He can got. He got the midi, he got the hezy. He can get to the rim, he can free throws. He's a 88, 89% free throw. So he's. He's as good as skilled. Because guys that side, they normally play center, they play with the back to the basket. We ain't see no guys. And Dirt could shoot the ball. Dirt was not putting it on the ball. Going between his leg, going between behind his back, doing what KD's doing. He just wasn't doing it.

[Rio]

Not even close.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I mean, Dirk had that. Dirk patted that, that one leg step back. He shooting it, it's gonna draw rain. But at skill, you. I don't know if you're ever going to see a guy at his size as skilled as kd, his ability, because of just for his ability to shoot the right. LeBron responds to the no bad comments in Mind the game podcast and shuts up haters. He said, I see it all the time. I'll be on social media. It'd be like, lebron has no bag. LeBron has no bag. I'm sitting here with 50 billion points. That's it. That's all you got to say? But what else you gonna say about that? I mean, all these people that got bags. Let me ask you a question. Of all the people that got bags, how many of them gonna have more points than LeBron? Nobody.

[Ocho Cinco]

Nobody?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nobody. So I'm talking about whoever got the bag. Whoever we think has a bag. Kyrie, James Harden, Steph Curry, who else we think got bags? Who gonna have that many points? Nobody.

[Q]

Hey, listen, I don't think.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't think Michael Jordan had a bag like that.

[Q]

When you're talking about handles, he was.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just, yeah, he wanted to handle that thing like Kyrie and Steph Curry. No, but he was, he was efficient getting to his spots.

[Q]

And when he, when he raised up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The shoot, it wasn't nothing you could do. You just had to hope he missed. Yep. But let me ask you. But this is the thing, and I'm a, I am a Jordan fan. Right? Yeah. So you know I respect the greatness of LeBron and the greatness of Kobe. Right. Like, why is it in basketball we gotta tear down one to. To love the other? That's what debate television is done jail. You pick. When you pick one, you gotta. I gotta, I gotta accentuate my guy while all the while addressing the flaws of your guy. And in the flaw, in addressing the flaw, it looks like I'm hating, but I'm just pointing out weaknesses in his game while accentuating the highs of my guy's game. Right. But Ocho, is it happening that way in football from a quarterback perspective? Yeah.

[Ocho Cinco]

Yeah. Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

All the time. Because we like Brady Mahomes. We had Peyton Manning. Yeah. You do that with one debate because you got to pick a side. The days of like straddling the fifth, you used to be. Well, I like them both now. You can't. You can't be on tv, you can't be on radio, you can't be on podcast because people go to. Well, hell, I could have said that. Right?

[Q]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. But I'm not saying no damn reels of Peyton and Brady versus Brady or whoever else. The way that you see it on LeBron, like I see, it's like this. It's like, what, Jordan did this or LeBron didn't do this or vice versa. Right. It's like playing on social media. I'm like, why is it, why is that such a. It didn't used to be. It didn't used to be like that until debate television came along. Jail. Because there was never a situation where we were debating Bird and Magic like that. We didn't do it like it is. But here's the thing. Prior to this, nobody had ever had what LeBron had. The points, the rebounds, the assists, the All NBAs, the All Stars, the MVPs, the Finals MVPs. So nobody was really even close to, to really have a comparison because nobody had been a four time finals MVP. LeBron got that. Nobody had that many MVPs. So when you started and see Biggs, we completely removed Biggs from the equation. Kareem got six MVPs. Ain't there nobody talk about Kareem? Russell got five, Chamberlain got four. But don't nobody talk about the bigs, because, man, somebody got to get them the ball. The other guys that we talk about, they can take the ball and do what they need to do themselves. So that's where we are now. It's only in sports where you could have a comparable comparison, because you don't see it in baseball. Ain't nobody being compared to Barry Bonds. Nobody being compared to Walter Johnson or Greg Maddox or all these great. It's just. For whatever reason, it's basketball and football. That damn, boy. LeBron James, he. LeBron James, he. How many more. How many more years he play jail? You give him one year, two year, three years. I think he done after this year. You think he done after. You okay, 23. You know, Bryce. Bryce could be eligible to come to the NBA if he do that. I'm a golden right. If he can get. If he can get both his kids in there, that. First of all, that'd be amazing to, you know, to be honest. But to just see that man play with his son and have that. That level of longevity, that consistency, you know, to keep himself together and still play at the highest of levels. Yes.

[Q]

You're not gonna see that again.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You ain't gonna never see that again. That's historic. Historic. You know, when you think about. You think about today's players, today's game, the type of money they making, like the.

[Q]

The. The.

[Shannon Sharpe]

The grind that you got to put into that. You know what I mean? To the. To. To have that type of longevity. I can't see it happening again.

[Q]

Guys, they record when.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Whenever he's done, however many points he put up, man, it ain't going.

[Q]

Ain't nobody catching it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't see it either, because I don't know if anybody. Because he's been the one guy that's been able to play and avoid the big injury. Yeah, everybody's had a knee. We see guys getting a Keyes and things like that. Jail. LeBron James has been able to avoid that injury. Yeah, those type of injuries that sideline him for 50, 60 games or an entire season. Well, G. Say this to y', all, and y' all know this offhand. We talk about the physical ability and. And what it take to put that together. But we know when we on the other side of the hill, mentally and emotionally. Oh, man. Yeah. Like, you see it coming, you know, talk yourself in it. You hurting, body aching, knees hurt, ankle bad.

[Q]

Yeah, yeah.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Just.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't even want to go to the bathroom. Jail. Your body hurt, your ankle, the knees hurt so bad. Like, I think I could. I think I could wait. What time is it? Yeah, I got another two hours in. I could wait. I ain't walked barefooted in almost 18 years, bro. I put. I don't walk barefooted either. I hurt too bad. I got. I. Hey, I got. I walk around with Crocs or sandals in my house. I can't put my. Hey, I ache.

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[Greg Rosenthal]

Who are the 25 greatest football players to grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing the NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years join me, Greg Rosenthal, and an all star cast of media personalities, including Mina Kimes, Steve Wish, Kevin Harlan and more, for a look at football's best since the turn of the century. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Shannon Sharpe]

This is an iHeart podcast.