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Lakers’ LeBron James gets disrespected by former teammate Ray Allen

Jason Reed|
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 28: Ray Allen #34 of the Miami Heat and teammate LeBron James #6 wear a black head band and inside out warm up jersey before their game against the Charlotte Bobcats in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 28, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 28: Ray Allen #34 of the Miami Heat and teammate LeBron James #6 wear a black head band and inside out warm up jersey before their game against the Charlotte Bobcats in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena on April 28, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

LeBron James has already earned his place as one of the two best players in NBA history with a lot of NBA fans and pundits arguing that the Los Angeles Lakers star is No. 1. Regardless of where you fall on the LeBron vs. Michael Jordan debate, there is no debating that LeBron is a generational talent and the only player that can rank ahead of him is Jordan.

Yet for some reason, LeBron does not get the respect he deserves from some pundits, fans and even former players. Despite having a crystal clear track record and being the most unique superstar in sports history, LeBron has more detractors than any other player in recent NBA history.

Even his former teammates are disrespecting him and snubbing him. LeBron’s former Heat teammate Ray Allen was recently asked what his all-time starting five would be. For reasons that remain unclear, Allen did not commit to LeBron being in said starting five (h/t Bleacher Report).

Lakers’ LeBron James gets left of Ray Allen’s all-time starting five

This seems to be a common trend around players who played with or against LeBron James at any point. There seems to be a weird hesitancy around giving credit to one of your peers with players instead of preferring those who came before them as all-time greats.

Granted, Allen did play against Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal, so it is weird to see him blatantly go against LeBron despite all he has accomplished in the NBA.

A question like this is subjective and Allen has the right to his own opinion, even if it is a bit absurd. But as good as Larry Bird was, putting him ahead of LeBron in the all-time conversation is a bit silly. Plus, Allen literally picked a starting five with two centers over putting LeBron James in there.

If that is not a calculated attempt to leave LeBron out of the starting five then I am not sure what is. It is not like Shaq and Hakeem even complement each other, either. It makes absolutely no sense, especially with him snubbing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as well (that is a conversation for another day).

LeBron James is in his 20th year in the league, is the NBA’s all-time scorer and is still playing at a high-enough level to make the Lakers a legitimate contender. Nobody in Allen’s starting five (or in NBA history, for that matter) has ever done what LeBron is doing right now.

But sure, let’s make him the sixth man!