Iman Shumpert Opens Up on the Reality of Playing With LeBron James

Winning an NBA championship alongside LeBron James is a career highlight for Iman Shumpert, but as he revealed on ESPN, the experience came with intense pressure and sacrifice. Echoing Richard Jefferson’s viral comments that “playing with LeBron James sucks,” Shumpert clarified: “Yes, it sucks — but it’s because of the expectations, not LeBron himself.”

Pressure of Greatness

Shumpert, who appeared in three straight NBA Finals with the Cavaliers (2015–2017), explained that LeBron’s presence means constant championship-or-bust stakes. “He’s always expected to win,” Shumpert said. “That forces everyone into win-now mode. When you’re young and still developing, that’s hard.”

Sacrifice Over Stats

Shumpert admitted his role shifted dramatically: “If you were scoring 20 somewhere else, now you score 12. My job was to defend and hit shots when the ball came my way.” The adjustment often caused friction with coach Tyronn Lue, but Shumpert later understood the bigger picture: “Rings last forever. In the moment, though, it sucks.”

No Regrets

Despite the challenges, Shumpert made it clear the tradeoff was worth it. “If you want to win, you have to pay a price.” For him, that sacrifice led to a ring in 2016.