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Ex-Coach of the Year claims Lakers’ LeBron James is no longer a superstar

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Benedetto Vitale | Last updated 5/18/24

It’s the offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers and it’s not exactly clear what’s in store for their future. There’s a chance LeBron James returns for the franchise to continue building around him. However, one former Coach of the Year believes that James is no longer a superstar in the league.

That coach happens to be George Karl who has been incredibly vocal since his retirement. Karl lists several players he believes are current superstars and makes it clear he thinks the Lakers star has fallen out of the top seven or eight players in the NBA.

“There are less than 10 superstars in the League today. They are Joker, Luka, SGA, [Giannis], Tatum, Joel, and maybe still Steph. LeBron was and ANT will be soon. That’s it.”

It’s hard to imagine that LeBron James, a top-two player all-time and is still very much the face of the league, is not considered a superstar in George Karl’s eyes. Especially considering James hasn’t missed a stepped at nearly 40 years old. This season alone he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Those numbers are nearly on par with his career averages.

With that in mind, George Karl doesn’t really offer a reasoning for not naming LeBron James as one of the league’s superstars. Maybe he’s just posting for clicks but Karl has never been shy to voice his opinion. So, maybe he’ll provide a true reason sometime down the road. But in the meantime, James should still be considered a superstar until further notice.

Can Lakers re-sign LeBron James?

LeBron James Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

James opted to not sign his player option, making him a free agent this offseason. Many believe he may pursue to play for the team that selects his son, Bronny, in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, rumors are the Lakers are still very much interested in having LeBron James return.

Los Angeles is facing a pivotal offseason and losing James would be a brutal blow for a franchise that always shoots for a championship. But the good news is the Lakers will have first dibs at signing James before free agency begins. So, there’s a chance he chooses to remain in LA to finish off his career.

Some other teams that would be exciting to see James play for are the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, or Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks are making a strong push for a championship this season and could make a big move by signing LeBron James in the offseason. Meanwhile, the Spurs have an opportunity to build a powerhouse around Victor Wembanyama. It would be cool to see James finish his career with Gregg Popovic as his head coach. And lastly, James may consider going back to Cleveland to end his career as a Cavalier. They have a solid roster and signing James would put the roster over the top.

With that said, all eyes will be on LeBron James and the Lakers this offseason. Additionally, watching the NBA Draft to see where Bronny lands could provide an answer as to where LeBron plans to play next season. But only time will tell if he follows through with playing alongside his son in the league.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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