Every Los Angeles Lakers legend isn’t exactly ready to jump on the Lebron James bandwagon. Four-time NBA champion and Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal had a somewhat different take on the arrival of James and his cementing of a legacy as a legend in “Showtime Land.” (h/t Dan Duangdao of LakersNation.com for transcription)

“Stop it. You can’t come here and play one year and be involved in the conversation for best Laker ever,” said O’Neal according to The Official Lakers Podcast, “Stop it. Are you kidding me?…No disrespect to Lebron. He’s a great player, but you can’t come here one year and be in that conversation. Listen, Magic, Worthy, Kobe, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain. That’s a lot.”

O’Neal knows all too well James’ capabilities, as he shared the court with him back in the 2009-10 season. Yet he also knows what it takes to certify one’s self as a legend in Hollywood, having shared the floor with Kobe Bryant from 1996-2004 while conquering three consecutive NBA Finals together and solidifying his legend status as well. However, Kobe had a different take on Lebron’s arrival, and how fans should push for perhaps one of the greatest to grace the floor to become a legend one day.

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“But listen, if you are fan of mine, you are a fan of winning, you are a fan of the Lakers. I bleed purple and gold. So, that is above anything else,” stated Kobe according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
“I have been a Lakers fan since I was yay high. That is never going to change. Right? [It] is about winning championships. So, they’ll fall in line.”

If he does obtain a ring in the four years he’ll spend at the Staples Center, he’ll be one of only three players to win a championship with three different teams (Robert Horry and John Salley). Aside from last season, James is facing yet again his most challenging campaign, as he heads into another year being the only true star on his team surrounded by plenty of capable role players and young stars that are still developing. Yet agreeing to a four year deal, he should wage to practice more patience with this new group, as it may be his only virtue going up against the army that is the Western Conference.