On July 13, 2025, Twitch streamer and FaZe Clan member Nick Lacy ignited a heated debate on social media after sharing his views on basketball legend LeBron James. During a 51-second segment from his livestream posted on X, Lacy openly declared that LeBron James is neither the greatest player of all time nor belongs in the top five. Instead, he named six players he believes rank above the Los Angeles Lakers star, challenging long-held opinions about James’s status in basketball history.
Lacy’s list included iconic names such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Russell, and Kevin Durant—surprising many with the inclusion of six players rather than five as he asserted his point.
Nick Lacy’s Exact Words Stir Controversy Among Fans
Nick Lacy said:
“I’m going to be honest – LeBron is not in my top five. He’s not. People say, ‘Oh, he is the best player of all time, he’s the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), this, that,’ he’s really not. LeBron’s not even a top-five player of all… I can sit here and name five players better than LeBron right now. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. Steph Curry. Shaq. Bill Russell. Kevin Durant. Yeah, there are six. I just named six better than him, all on top of my head, without doing research.”
The 22-year-old’s perspective quickly divided followers online, with some strongly disagreeing with his assessment. One X user responded bluntly to Lacy’s ranking of Kevin Durant above LeBron James.
“He doesn’t know basketball at all to have KD over LeBron just shows he doesn’t know basketball. KD hasn’t been able to accomplish anything since leaving the warriors,” X user @FameINJ replied.
FaZe Lacy Calls for LeBron James’ Trade, Citing Decline and Controversy
Later the same day, Lacy directly appealed to the Los Angeles Lakers in a now-deleted post on X, pushing for a trade of LeBron James. He criticized the 40-year-old star’s current athletic abilities, describing him as slower and less efficient than in previous years. Lacy also referenced an unresolved issue involving LeBron and rapper Drake as part of his argument for moving on from the player.
“Please trade lebron. He’s old and not what he once was. He doesn’t move as quick, he’s less efficient, and he betrayed Drake. Overrated and not even a top 5 player of all time after doing what he did to trade. TRADE HIM @Lakers.”
Background and Significance of FaZe Lacy’s Statements
Nick Lacy’s comments come in the midst of heightened attention following an earlier July 2025 controversy involving him and fellow FaZe Clan member Alexander Adapt. This latest episode has intensified discussions within basketball communities and beyond, spotlighting the pressures and expectations on veteran athletes like LeBron James.
Given LeBron James’s longstanding reputation as one of the game’s greatest, Lacy’s critical tone and demand for a trade underline ongoing debates about aging sports stars and their performance. Whether the Lakers will respond formally remains uncertain, but these remarks have certainly added tension to the conversation around the franchise’s future decisions.