Derek Fisher defends LeBron James after rankings controversy
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 20, 2026, 10:43 PM
Last updated Aug 20, 2026

On The Joint Venture Show, Derek Fisher responded to Craig Carton's claim that LeBron James should not be in the top ten Lakers of all time. Fisher challenged Carton's rationale, citing James’ 2020 championship title as equal to that of other recent NBA champions. James led the Lakers, who were the No. 1 seed, to the title in the Orlando bubble, distinguished by a 16-5 postseason record. As debates about championships won during the pandemic continue, Fisher emphasized that the standards applied to LeBron should match those for players like Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, all of whom have one title in recent years. The discussion around LeBron's legacy within the Lakers persists.
- •Derek Fisher criticized Craig Carton's ranking of Lakers players.
- •LeBron James was omitted from Carton's top ten list.
- •Fisher highlighted James’ 2020 championship as significant.
- •Lakers went 16-5 in the 2020 postseason.
- •Ongoing debates question the legitimacy of titles won during the pandemic.
- 10:43 PMYahoo Sports — Analyst draws fiery response from five-time NBA champion after questioning LeBron James’ Lakers title
"Derek Fisher has pushed back hard after LeBron James was left out of a top-10 list of the greatest Lakers of all time. The five-time champion was a guest on The Joint Venture Show alongside Craig Carton and Lil Wayne.
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