Nothing divides the NBA community quite like the GOAT debate.
It’s the only topic where everyone has an opinion, unless you’re that annoying person who says ‘we shouldn’t compare people from different eras’ or ‘we should just appreciate greatness’.
Ninety-nine per cent of fans have chosen their guy: either the dominant, tongue-waving Michael Jordan or the versatile, intelligent, unwavering LeBron James. You have a guy, I have a guy and that’s that.
But everyone seems to be looking too close to the picture to see the whole thing. We know the stats, accolades, feats and even defeats as they come with time. But what about what’s happening ahead of time?
I’m talking about James being one championship away from cementing his GOAT argument even though James is not one championship away from being the GOAT.
(Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Currently James is in a room with the greatest doctors on the planet as they scientifically heal his nasty ankle sprain. Anthony Davis has been hurt as well for what seems like an eternity.
Yet people are infinitely more shocked the 36-year-old with 49,939 minutes (only 61 minutes away from the big 50,000) is actually injured. Whereas when Davis goes down, playing less minutes a game, we say ‘oh, I was wondering when he was going to be out again’.
If James and Davis can rest up and win a championship this year, every true contender will crumble. Look at the teams you expect to win it all in the next two years.
Philadelphia are on their last legs trying to keep a style-conflicting duo of young players together. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are great individual players. But put Simmons around four sharp shooters and remove the big fella clogging the middle of the floor, and that sounds like a team to compete.
As with Embiid, without Simmons constantly driving to the basket, the lane will open up for Embiid to play his traditional big-men game. If they do not at least make finals, the duo will split from frustration, or the organisation will realise building a team around two injury-prone players that always play better when the other is out is maybe not the best idea.
The Nets are just a ticking time bomb, especially with Kyrie Irving. If you don’t believe me, watch 2018-19 Kyrie Irving highlights in the Bucks series. That’s what it looks like when things don’t go Irving’s way after one round of post-season failure.
If that doesn’t get them, then injuries to Kevin Durant will. Maybe there will even be arguments over who takes the final shots come playoffs or who sacrifices the most when it really matters. There are so many things that can go wrong in Brooklyn, and all are valid. But the truth is while all three are in their prime, if it doesn’t happen this year, it probably just won’t happen.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The Clippers don’t look to be a team that can handle another post-season failure, especially if it’s another choke job. But out of the bubble this year hopefully, maybe things will turn around and Paul George won’t struggle.
Who else is there? The Bucks? It’s been the same story through Giannis Antetokounmpo’s short superstar stretch. It’s also the reason he’s not winning the MVP. He hasn’t shown anything to say he can take his game to the next level come deep in the playoffs. Maybe that changes, maybe it doesn’t. But Milwaukee don’t have the pieces to build around Antetokounmpo in a championship-contending way.
After that, the Heat lack a superstar. The Blazers have always floated in the same tier. The Celtics are too young. So are the Jazz, Suns and Nuggets.
If James wins the championship this year, then that means next year, Anthony Davis will hopefully be a lot better.
I have faith that James would still be the alpha and therefore potentially finals MVP. They would just need to go back the next year, making it James’ first three-peat and sixth championship. That is something Jordan fans constantly rip James about.
The competition looks good on paper, but they would crumble, blow up or just prove they never belonged.
Troy Hanning
Roar Guru
IMO: It should be measuring a players peak by the length and height of that particular amount of time. In other words thier dominance. As well as mentioning past feats and fall before and after this valued time. Brons peak is longer but not as great. Jordans was still very long and GREAT.
Troy Hanning
Roar Guru
Whenever people mention LBJs 'off the court' stuff. Whether listing it or claiming to favour it when discussing GOAT. NO MATTER WHAT. I think that person's opinion might be invalidiated because they are thinking off the wrong criteria for GOAT
Kane
Roar Guru
Problem with the peakier peak is how short do you measure? Same foes with measuring greatest of all time. Do you measure their full career then the case for Jordan>James becomes tougher to argue. Jordan fans think it should be the best six years but ignore the fact the Jordan quit for a year and a half and failed to make the playoffs when he returned. But why best six years? Why not the greatest season? Why stop there? Shouldn't the greatest of all time come down to who has played the best ever in a single game?
patrick
Guest
Jordan truthers simply say Lebron will never pass him because the finals record of 6-0 is better than Lebrons 4-6 etc. Or the 2011 finals where Lebron was a ghost and the stacked Heat lost to the unfancied Mavs. I dont agree that the overall finals record should count against Lebron, I think its simplistic and reductive (by this rationale, Lebron gets punished for making the finals with weak teams or running into the all time GSW team) but its not going to change. People will always hold it against him. I personally prefer Lebron and his career and legacy off court, but have MJ slightly ahead as a GOAT with a peakier peak. But its a tired discussion. Just log onto First Take etc after the finals this year for many more tired arguments no matter what happens. If Lakers dont win "does this harm his legacy and claims to GOAT status?" if Lakers win, "does this make Lebron the GOAT?" Answer, No. MJ had 6-0. blah blah blah.