Shannon Sharpe Fires Back After Former Cavs GM Questions LeBron’s Eastern Conference Dominance
LeBron James has taken more than his fair share of criticism over the years - that comes with the territory when you’re one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. But when the shots start coming from people who directly benefited from his greatness? That’s when eyebrows really start to raise.
Former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin, who helped build the team that won the 2016 NBA title with LeBron at the helm, stirred the pot this week with some pointed comments about James' historic run through the Eastern Conference. According to Griffin, the East during LeBron’s prime years was “relatively forgiving,” implying that the path to the Finals was made easier by the lack of top-tier competition.
That take didn’t sit well with NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe, who didn’t mince words on his podcast.
“So you’re telling me, if I took LeBron James with the Eastern Conference how it’s constructed right now - if I put LeBron on the Cavs and take Donovan Mitchell off - you’re saying they’re losing to the Pacers?” Sharpe asked, clearly baffled by Griffin’s logic.
Sharpe’s panel didn’t buy it either. Across the board, the consensus was clear: even in today’s tougher East, a LeBron-led Cavaliers squad would still have the firepower and leadership to get past a team like Indiana in the playoffs.
That’s not a knock on the Pacers - they’ve been a solid, scrappy team - but we’re talking about LeBron James here. The version of him that led the Cavs to four straight Finals appearances wasn’t just navigating a weak conference - he was dominating it.
And it’s not like Griffin didn’t benefit from that dominance. LeBron’s return to Cleveland in 2014 transformed the franchise overnight.
Within two years, the Cavs were back on top of the basketball world, knocking off the record-setting 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. That championship banner hanging in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse?
It doesn’t go up without LeBron.
Sharpe put it bluntly: “What is it about this man that people feel the need to take shots at him?”
It’s a fair question. LeBron’s career has been under the microscope since day one, and while criticism is part of the game, there’s a difference between fair analysis and revisionist history.
Griffin’s comments may have been intended to highlight the current strength of the Eastern Conference - and yes, the East has grown deeper and more competitive in recent years. But to suggest that LeBron’s Finals runs were primarily the result of a soft conference?
That’s missing the forest for the trees.
Let’s not forget who was doing the heavy lifting. LeBron didn’t just beat Eastern Conference teams - he dismantled them.
Year after year, he was the immovable object in the playoffs. Whether it was the Raptors, Celtics, Hawks, or Pacers, they all ran into the same wall.
And it wasn’t just talent - it was leadership, basketball IQ, and an ability to elevate teammates in the biggest moments.
If anything, the current Cavs could use a player like that right now. Donovan Mitchell is a star, no doubt, but the team hasn’t been able to make that leap. And that’s exactly what Sharpe was getting at - swap Mitchell for LeBron, and Cleveland’s postseason fate likely looks very different.
At the end of the day, LeBron James remains the greatest player in Cavaliers history. He delivered a title to a city that had been waiting for decades. He changed the trajectory of the franchise - and in doing so, helped elevate the careers of everyone around him, including David Griffin.
So when former colleagues start casting doubt on his legacy, it’s going to raise some heat. And rightfully so. Because if you were in the building when LeBron was carrying teams to the Finals, you know exactly what kind of force he was - and still can be.
Let’s call it like it is: prime LeBron in today’s NBA would still be a nightmare matchup for any team in the East. The league may have evolved, but greatness like that doesn’t go out of style.