I’m pretty sure my Bleacher Nation contract states that I must begin any article regarding the “greatest of all-time conversation” with the following: Michael Jordan is the indisputable GOAT.
His Airness is the ultimate winner with a 6-0 championship record, ten All-NBA First Team selections, nine All-Defensive First Team selections, five NBA MVP awards, and a Defensive Player of the Year honor. All you have to do is utter phrases like “The Shot” or “The Shrug” and people immediately know who you’re talking about. Factor in his countless other iconic moments and a brand that dominates the sports world, and there is a reason Jordan has remained locked into the top spot on the GOAT Rankings since the ’90s.
That is … until today.
To celebrate the league’s 78th anniversary, HoopsHype released their Top 78 players of all time. And, for the first time ever, the site has LeBron James stealing the No. 1 spot. HoopsHype pointed toward James’ sustained success and longevity, which has led to an increasing number of accolades, as the primary reason for his jump up the board.
“While we still consider Michael Jordan to have a higher peak than LeBron, at this point we have to bow down to King James and finally move him up one spot to the top of our GOAT list ahead of MJ. His advantage in terms of sustained excellence is just too big to ignore, with LeBron at No. 1 and far ahead of His Airness in an increasing number of accolades and statistical categories,” HoopsHype wrote.
Look, I have gained more and more respect for LeBron James the older he gets and the longer he plays. We’ve never seen someone his age play the game of basketball at this elite level. Anyone who refuses at this point to recognize how impressive James’ career has been is simply guzzling Haterade. But that isn’t to say he is now the GOAT frontrunner.
As far as I’m concerned, there is a difference between the “greatest career of all time” and the “greatest player of all time.” I tend to believe the GOAT acronym is more representative of the latter. Does James have a strong case for the former? Absolutely, as does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, while longevity should be a part of the true greatest player of all-time conversation, I think there are other key factors at play. Jordan’s undefeated Finals record matters. Following a retirement with an additional three-peat matters. The clutch gene, consistent two-way play, career scoring average, and sheer impact on growing the game all matter. Not to mention, the commitment to one organization and his teammates.
The peak that Jordan reached has never been matched. HoopsHype even said as much in their case for James. I think that alone says a lot about who truly belongs at the top of the list.