Speaking on ‘The OGs’ show, former NBA swingman Michael Beasley gave his candid take on the NBA GOAT debate. On the subject of Michael Jordan and his case as the greatest ever, Beasley says that any fans who still have the Bulls legend number one are speaking with their heart over their head.
“I feel like people that stan Michael Jordan as the GOAT, like no disrespect,” said Beasley. “But y’all just holding on to old feelings, you know what I’m saying? Like, [LeBron] got 40,000 right now and counting. Yeah, and dog, you seen his resume.”
Michael Beasley was drafted 2nd overall after a breakout season at Kansas State. He endured an 11-year NBA career that involved playing various roles for seven different teams. As a score-first offensive machine, Beasley proved himself a valuable asset off the bench but he was never quite able to live up to expectations as a former lottery pick.
Beasley is arguably most known for his time with the Miami Heat, where he played alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh during the 2013-14 season. During his brief stint as LeBron’s teammate, he got a glimpse into his greatness first-hand and it was enough for Beasley to crown him as the GOAT.
Today, as a 20x All-Star, 4x MVP, 4x champion, and former scoring leader, James has probably the best resume of any player in the game, and his GOAT case has never been stronger. Through 21 seasons in the league, LeBron is averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game on 54% shooting and he stands as the leading scorer in NBA history with a total of 40,474 points to his name.
Out of anyone in the league still playing, LeBron’s resume is the best and his longevity is truly unprecedented… and yet, whether James’ fans like to admit it or not, Michael Jordan still has a pretty strong case for being the best player ever. In fact, I would argue that Jordan’s career is overall better considering all that he accomplished during the height of his run.
Jordan, who played from 1984-2003 (with some breaks in between) is a legend among men for his accomplishments in the league. As a 6x champion, 5x MVP, 14x All-Star, and 10x scoring leader, Michael was an absolute menace in his era and he forever changed the game after leading the Bulls to historic levels of dominance.
For his career, No. 23 averaged 30.1 points 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 49.7% shooting. So while Michael cannot compare to LeBron’s longevity, it’s not overselling it to say his peak was higher when accounting for his stretch of six championships over eight years.
Since LeBron came into the league and started down the path of greatness, the community has been split on where he ranks among the best of the best. Guys like Beasley think that his achievements speak for themselves and that the Jordan advocates are still stuck in the past.
Of course, there will never be a consensus on the NBA’s greatest of All-Time but Michael Jordan will always be mentioned for his skills, his passion, and the way he embraced being the face of the sport itself. No matter how much time passes, Jordan’s impact on the league will always be felt and that’s the type of legacy that only a select few can carry.