NBA news: Expert scolds Kobe Bryant over Lakers prediction, makes LeBron James claim
LOS ANGELES LAKERS legend Kobe Bryant is wrong to suggest his former team will win an NBA championship in the near future because LeBron James needs another All-NBA level player alongside him.
LeBron James has a lot of influence on signings says expert
That’s the verdict of Jalen Rose.
The All-NBA Team is an end-of-year award with three five-man teams made up of the best players - with five-time NBA champion Kobe the joint-most selected player with 15.
LeBron, meanwhile, is on 14 and is expected to join Lakers icon Kobe and fellow legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a 15-time member of the team this season. He has not missed out on selection for the first team since 2007-08.
But the four-time MVP is not capable of lifting the Lakers to a 17th title without elite-level help, according to Rose.
The likes of Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, who have all been selected more than once in the All-NBA Team, have been linked with a trade or a free agency move to the Lakers.
And Rose insists that only a player of their quality - and not others who have been linked to LA such as Bradley Beal - will be enough to get LeBron a fourth career ring.
That is despite what Kobe told Lakers fans at a recent event, replying when asked if the Lakers will win with LeBron: “Of course they will. They will figure it out. They have talented pieces and [Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka] has put them in position with incredible flexibility.
“They will figure it out. So, enjoy the journey because we’ll be champions before you know it, and then we’ll just be laughing at all the Warrior fans who all of a sudden came out of nowhere.”
They can be good, but they can’t be a championship team
But speaking on Jalen and Jacoby on ESPN, ex-swingman Rose hit back: “For Kobe when you’re at Staples Center and it’s your job to pump up the crowd and to give them some hope and optimism, of course he’s going to talk about what they’ve done and the trek that they’re on.
“The problem is, they’re still in the same conference as the Golden State Warriors.
“LeBron James is playing at an elite level.
“Until the Lakers get a second All-NBA calibre performer, I’m not talking about an All-Star - we’ve seen some flash in the pan All-Stars - I’m not talking about an All-NBA performer unless that guy is consistently on the All-NBA team.
“I’m talking about an MVP-level candidate to play alongside of him.
“If that does not happen, LeBron James has a better chance of winning an Emmy than he does winning another NBA championship.”
The Lakers are 14-9 and the fifth seed in the Western Conference as it stands having won all of their last three games.
Luke Walton’s team will hope to continue their improved streak at home to the San Antonio Spurs (Thursday 3.30am UK time/Wednesday 7.30pm PST).