There’s a running argument among NBA fans about whether LeBron James belongs in the all-time top five. Former Celtics star Cedric Maxwell thinks that conversation is a waste of time.
Maxwell, who won two championships with Boston, went on FanDuel’s Run It Back and made it pretty clear where he stands. He didn’t just say LeBron belongs in the top five. He essentially said anyone who argues otherwise isn’t paying attention.
“LeBron James one of my favorite players because of the longevity and what he’s done,” Maxwell said. “He is one of the top players of all-time. So, I don’t think that you can have five greater players in the NBA than LeBron James and what he’s done for the league and how he’s really handled himself.”
That’s a strong take from a guy whose own team spent years trying to stop James. The Celtics and LeBron had some wars in the playoffs, especially during his Cleveland years. So when a Celtics legend steps up and says this, it carries a little extra weight.
Why Maxwell won’t budge on LeBron
Maxwell pointed to something that often gets overlooked in these debates. It’s not just the points or the rings. It’s the whole package.
“A guy who has been no trouble, won championships, and you think about the personnel that have been around him and other personnel that have been around him — you don’t have that with LeBron,” Maxwell said.
He’s not wrong. LeBron has played for three franchises, changed coaches and systems, and somehow remained the most consistent force in the league for over two decades. He’s the all-time leading scorer now. Four rings. Four MVPs. Four Finals MVPs. And he’s still playing at an elite level at 40.
That part is what makes Maxwell’s argument hard to beat. Nobody else has done what LeBron has done at this age, in this era, with this kind of longevity. Not MJ. Not Kareem. Not Magic. Different times, different workloads. But the sheer durability and production over 20-plus years is unprecedented.
Maxwell also acknowledged that some folks from his generation are slow to put LeBron in that top tier. But he clearly isn’t one of them. He sees the full picture — the stats, the wins, the way James has carried himself through every controversy and every championship run.
LeBron is likely gearing up for another season with the Lakers. The debates about his legacy will keep going because that’s what sports fans do. But Maxwell’s take suggests that at least one former rival sees the truth: LeBron James isn’t just in the top five conversation. He’s locked into it.
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