NBA champion slams LeBron James over ring culture comment that would have 'Kobe Bryant rolling in his grave'

An NBA champion has slammed LeBron James over recent 'ring culture' comments which according to him would have 'Kobe Bryant rolling in his grave'.

The 40-year-old has won four NBA championships and broken multiple records to cement his name as an all-time great player.

James has also been compared to Michael Jordan throughout his career and the debate between who among the two is the greatest, seems to be one that never gets old. While James has stated that he respects Jordan and his legacy, he continues to compete for championships and earn some more recognition in the GOAT debate.

However, his recent remarks about the NBA's toxic ring culture have led to a lot of former players and experts criticise him.

King James in an episode of his Mind the Game podcast said: "Trying to nitpick an individual because he was not able to win a team game or a team match, or whatever the case may be, I don't know where it started, but it's a long conversation, especially when it comes to me individually.

"I don't know why it's discussed so much in our sport and why it's the end-all, be-all of everything.

"Like OK, 'You weren't a great player [because] you never won a championship'. Or if you won one, you can't be in the same conversation with this person. You sit here and tell me Allen Iverson and Charles Barkley and Steve Nash f*** weren't unbelievable?"

But his former teammate Kendrick Perkins was not pleased with James' comments.

LeBron James with Kendrick Perkins Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Kendrick Perkins on LeBron James' ring culture comments

The 40-year-old was teammates with James when he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his second stint with the franchise.

Perkins was part of two Finals with the Cavs but did not win a championship alongside James.

Speaking on the Road Trippin podcast, he said: "People remember champions, so lets not start moving the goalpost and lowering the standards, championships matter.

"When you talk about being in conversations as far as the GOAT's and All Time greats they won rings at a high level, Bill Russell, Jordan, Magic, Bird, Isaiah Thomas, Kobe. Matter of fact Kobe rolling in his grave by some of the comments about ring culture going on."

James, who is currently playing for the LA Lakers, has won a championship for every franchise he has been a part of.

While James has been the best player on his team in every championship run, Stephen A. Smith questioned a few of his moves from franchises in the past

He said: "He understood it when he departed it to go from Cleveland to go to Miami, he understood it and departed to go back from Miami to Cleveland.

"He understood it when he arrived in Tinseltown with the Lakers that stars, superstars who wore the Purple and Gold. He couldn't be the one that didn't capture a championship, he had to get at least one, but now that you got it all of a sudden, you really really don't understand why it's of so importance, nonsense, he understands why."