John Stockton is not fan of LeBron James’ apparent power behind the scenes

Utah Jazz legend John Stockton is taking aim at the power and influence that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has.

John Stockton is not going quietly into retirement. Retired for 20 years now, Stockon, the all-time leader in assists among all NBA players, is making headlines once again. Not for anything he’s done in and around basketball, but for his takes on the biggest stars of the game. Namely LeBron James.

Stockton sounded off on James during his time on the DNP-CD Podcast. On the podcast, Stockton took aim at James’ historic use of influence behind the scenes to try and get the best team possible for him to win a title.

Something that Stockton never would’ve done, going on to say (via The Spun);

"I don’t know what it’s like to sit in that front office and have things (dictated) to you like a plan, and it appears that LeBron is.I don’t know for sure that he is, but it appears so. I think it would be maddening as a teammate to know that you can be expendable for one of his guys that he thinks he needs to play with.The iffiness it causes with the team, the iffiness that it causes upstairs. I don’t like it… I’m not a fan of it."

Now, Stockton isn’t wrong. James is notorious for blowing up a team or two, trading away the young players who could be helping him win in just another season, all to play with his buddies. We know this. Look at the Anthony Davis trade, while Lonzo Ball is now too hurt to play, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram alone would’ve given James significant amounts of help.

Especially considering Davis’ injury history and inconsistencies since arriving in LA.

That being said, it feels tacky for Stockon, who retired the offseason James was drafted, to take shots at someone who he doesn’t know. And listen, we’re all on his side, many fans hate what James does to teams, especially since he usually just ups and leaves them once he drains them of their potential and prospects.

Hence the not-so-loving nickname, LeGM. So Stockton’s not wrong, but it feels needless to go there, especially since it’s not going to do anything but kick up controversy around him. Something he needs to stop doing as much.