James always says he is a team player, why do he have only 4 championships and 5 Kobe?

LeBron James's remarks as a "team player" have sparked continuous debate among the fans. Compared with Kobe Bryant's five championship trophys, there seems to be a gap in James' number of championships. Behind this is actually the result of the joint action of multiple factors such as team configuration, competition in the times, and personal choices, which inadvertently laid the foreshadowing for the controversy.

1. The lineup puzzle of fate: Kobe's "A combination of heaven" and James' "Moving forward with weight"

Kobe's championship path is inseparable from the "dream" team configuration. At the beginning of the 21st century, the power of the "OK combination" shook the past and the present. Shaquille O'Neal has absolute dominance in the interior. His huge body and powerful explosive power make the opponent's defense useless. Winning the finals MVP for three consecutive years is evidence of his strength. Kobe and O'Neal formed a perfect complement to the inside and outside lines. Zen master Phil Jackson's triangular offensive system has brought the advantages of the two to the extreme, helping the Lakers win three consecutive championships. 2009-2010, when Kobe won the cup again, Paul Gasol's support and mid-range ability, as well as the stable performance of veterans such as Derek Fisher at critical moments, all escorted the team's championship victory.

In contrast, James, in the early days of the Cleveland Cavaliers, led the team into the playoffs many times with his own strength, but the team's lineup was insufficient. Faced with strong enemies such as the "Big Three" of the Boston Celtics, he was often unable to do so. In 2010, he joined the Miami Heat to form the Big Three. It seems to be a strong alliance, but in fact it has hidden dangers. Dwyane Wade was plagued by injuries and his condition declined; Chris Bosh took on more roles in opening up space, and his strong attack ability in the inside was limited. In the 2014 Finals, the Heat lost to the Spurs with perfect tactics due to their lineup shortcomings. Even though the Cavaliers later returned to form the new three giants with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, and achieved an epic reversal in 2016, the frequent injuries of Irving and Love still weakened the team's overall strength. James has always struggled with imperfect lineup configurations at different times, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of him winning the championship.

2. In the era in which the "lucky one" and the "fronter the wind"

Kobe lived, there was a clear gap in strength between the east and west of the NBA. Although the competition in the West is fierce, after the Lakers break out of the siege, they often have the upper hand when facing the Eastern team in the finals. After James entered the league, the NBA situation changed drastically, and the gap between the teams narrowed, especially the rise of many powerful teams in the East. During the Heat and the Cavaliers, James encountered hard battles in the Eastern Conference Finals many times, which consumed a lot of money. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors rose in 2015, dominating the league with small ball tactics and powerful three-point firepower, becoming an insurmountable "mountain" on many teams' road to winning the championship. The team led by James has confronted the Warriors in the finals many times, and the victory and loss are full of suspense. The strength of the Warriors has made James' road to winning the championship even more difficult.

3. Personal choice and public opinion backlash: The whirlpool of controversy from "decision" to "grouping"

James' "decision" in 2010 joined the Heat and formed the three giants, although he brought him two championship trophys, it also caused huge public controversy. The label of "grouping" has been put on him since then. Fans accused him of giving up his persistence in "one person, one city" for the sake of the championship. This public opinion pressure has affected his image in the hearts of fans to a certain extent. On the other hand, Kobe still chose to stay in the Lakers even though the team experienced a trough. This loyalty has won the respect and praise of fans. James' personal choice not only affected his public opinion environment, but also greatly reduced the value of his championship in the eyes of some fans, becoming one of the fuses of controversy.

However, behind the controversy, we must also admit that the team attributes shown by James in the game are not empty talk. He often creates opportunities for his teammates through exquisite passes, and has played triple-double data in the playoffs many times, connecting the entire team's offense. But it is undeniable that the gap in the number of champions and his remarks of "team player" have become a topic of debate among fans under the impact of many factors. Kobe and James are both legends in basketball history. They write their glory in different ways, but the controversy surrounding their number of championships may continue to ferment among the fan group.