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Isiah Thomas criticizes former players excluding LeBron James from top five

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 12, 2026, 5:28 PM

Last updated Jun 12, 2026

Isiah Thomas criticizes former players excluding LeBron James from top five

Summary

Isiah Thomas recently addressed NBA legends who do not include LeBron James in their all-time top five rankings during a segment on the "Run It Back" show. Thomas pointed out that James's achievements, including being the NBA's all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, make it difficult to justify leaving him out. He emphasized that excluding James from these lists seems influenced by jealousy or envy rather than just basketball analysis. This ongoing debate about James's place in basketball history continues to evoke strong opinions among fans and analysts alike.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Isiah Thomas defends LeBron James's inclusion in top five lists
•Thomas argues jealousy drives exclusion of James
•James is NBA's all-time leading scorer
•LeBron has won four championships and MVPs

Latest Updates

5:28 PMYahoo Sports — Isiah Thomas rips former NBA stars who leave LeBron James out of all-time top-five debate

What they're saying

"
LeBron James has been at the centre of the NBA’s greatest of all time debate for years, and that conversation is not fading. Some fans and analysts now have him ahead of Michael Jordan, pointing to his longevity, record-breaking career and all-round influence.
— Yahoo Sports

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