Basketball is a sport obsessed with legacy. While everyone in the NBA has plenty of talent, the league is one of the only organizations where being good isn’t good enough. Players need to truly go above and beyond the competition to get respect from fans and the media.
There are quite a few all-time greats, but it takes more than talent to be put in the conversation for the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T). No one player holds that title, but there’s plenty of debate around it. In fact, it’s one of the aspects that sets basketball apart from other professional sports.
Despite there being no one consensus for who is the GOAT of basketball, there are a few names in the conversation. They all have a case due to aspects like consistency, dominance, and sheer otherworldly talent that nobody has ever been able to match.
Criteria for GOAT Status
Deciding if someone is the GOAT is not easy. There are many reasons to put one player over another, and they all need to be taken into account before making a final decision.
Perhaps the biggest criteria for determining who is the GOAT of basketball is championships. Rings determine legacy in the NBA, and it’s impossible for someone to be a truly all-time great without three or more. Winning the finals is one of the most difficult things to do in the NBA. The more someone has, the more weight they carry into the GOAT conversation.
MVP awards are important as well. While they don’t hold the same weight as rings, being the best player in the league for one or more years goes a long way. Taking home multiple MVP awards across multiple seasons or throughout a long career helps too.
The best basketball players also need to be incredibly impactful athletes who change the game every time they’re on the court. Earning scoring titles or breaking individual records for stats like rebounds and points are a big part of that, as they are an easy way to measure skill.
The greatest basketball players aren’t just good or great, they need to be truly dominant. Unstoppability puts them on an entirely different level and makes them a problem on both sides of the ball.
Beyond that, longevity matters too. The true greats have a huge influence on the game, are so big they are known around the world, and stack up both rings and accolades whenever possible. However, no athlete can be the G.O.A.T if their success is short lived.
Great players stick around a long time and manage to consistently put up incredible numbers or championship runs. It’s not about being the best for one or two years, it’s about being the best over a long and successful career.
Top Contenders
The NBA has had many incredible players, but the GOAT debate often centers around Michael Jordan and LeBron James. However, there are a few others like Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, and Kobe Bryant who can make a case for the title as well.
Michael Jordan
Long considered the greatest player to ever step on a basketball court, it’s difficult for anyone to match Michael Jordan’s legacy. The Bulls’ guard didn’t just take over games, he dominated the sport in a way that nobody has ever truly been able to match.
Jordan had a great shot, played incredible defense, and embodied the will to win. Those traits made him a mega-star, but what pushed him into the greatest of all time category was his ability to succeed at the highest level.
Jordan played in six NBA Finals and won every single one. The two three-peats categorized basketball in the 90’s and are still considered to be some of the most impressive championship runs in any sport. It’s hard to win once on the biggest stage. To do it six times is incredible.
The Bulls superstar had a great regular season resume as well. Not only did he lead one of the best regular season teams to a 72-10 record, he also earned 5 MVP awards, 6 Finals MVPs, was a 10-time scoring champion, and took home a defensive player of the year as well.
It’s also worth mentioning that Jordan impacted basketball on a global scale. His shoe line is still one of the most well-known in the world, and he brought the game into the international spotlight. That influence furthers his legacy too.
LeBron James
Jordan excelled at the top of the NBA for a long period of time, but LeBron James is also firmly in the GOAT conversation due to his extended dominance, numerous awards, and unmatched consistency.
Jordan took home six rings over an eight year period. LeBron did not win as many titles, only coming away with four so far, but he made ten championships and put together eight straight Finals appearances from 2011 to 2018.
He also has the accolades to match. The superstar racked up 13 All-NBA First Teams, 4 MVP awards, and made it into 20 all-star games. He also has a scoring title and has made 5 All-Defensive First Teams.
LeBron isn’t just good, he’s routinely been one of the best players in the league for his entire career. That longevity helped him get the record for the most points of all time, and also allowed him to find sustained success with multiple stars across multiple teams.
Jordan had a wide-reaching legacy, but in today’s game it’s hard to find an athlete with as much personality or fanfare as LeBron. His stats at this point are far beyond anyone else, and he continues to be a leader into the end of his long and successful career.
Other Notable Contenders
The GOAT debate often centers around Jordan and LeBron. Despite that, a few other names pop up every now and then. The biggest is Bill Russell, who won an incredible 11 rings during the 1950’s and 1960’s and led the most dominant franchise in NBA history.
On top of that, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar has a legitimate case. Not only did the big man win six rings and six MVP awards, he also won two Finals MVPS, made 10 All-NBA First Teams, and was a two time scoring champion.
Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, both of whom led their teams to five rings, are also in the conversation. Johnson is still considered by many to be the best point guard of all time as a result of his size, skill, and winning legacy.
Kobe gets similar marks due to his consistent winning and ability to score. He is still considered the best pure scorer in NBA history, but also did a lot as a team leader.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Michael Jordan and LeBron James always head the GOAT debate due to the fact that they are the two biggest names in NBA history. Each had a major impact both on and off the court, they won numerous rings, and played at an extremely high level.
Jordan gets the nod for the playoffs because of his 6-0 record, but it’s worth noting that LeBron did make four more championships. He also has the all-time scoring record. However, Jordan has one more MVP and two more finals MVPs, which gives him a slight nod for accolades.
Both compare well to others too. Jordan might have less rings than Bill Russell, as well as less championships, but he played in a more competitive era and came away with 10 scoring titles compared to Russell’s zero. That’s why so many give the Bulls’ guard the edge.
Magic Johnson also had an incredible resume. He won five rings, 3 MVP awards, and 9 All-NBA First Teams. Unfortunately for the purposes of the GOAT debate, that falls short of Jordan’s rings, MVP awards, and All-NBA First Teams.
Kareem Adbul-Jabbar has a legitimate case for the title. The big man had as many rings as Jordan (6), one more MVP (6), as well as the same number of All-NBA First Teams (10). He has less All-Defensive First Teams (5 to Jordan’s 10) but excels everywhere else.
Those numbers compare even better to LeBron. He has more MVPs and championships, as well as more All-Defensive First Teams. Though most players can’t match the top two, Jabbar is one of the few exceptions.
Arguments for Michael Jordan
There are various reasons so many consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest of all time, but nothing holds more weight than his undefeated finals record. Going 6-0 against the league’s top teams put him on another level and showed a clutch factor nobody could match.
Jordan took over the NBA in truly unique fashion. He entered the public eye and quickly went from athlete to celebrity due to his dominance throughout the 90’s. The Bulls were the team of the decade, winning rings with a consistency unmatched by any other modern franchise.
Nobody, even modern and past greats, have been able to live up to Jordan’s prowess. His five MVP awards and ten scoring titles both put him above many other superstars, and his defensive capabilities also showed that he was more than just a scorer.
It’s also important to acknowledge just how much he did for the sport. There are many great players, but few of them expanded basketball like Jordan. He created a global brand and is now one of the most recognizable names on the planet. The NBA would not be where it is without him.
Arguments for LeBron James
Jordan had one of the best streaks of all time, but LeBron James gets into the GOAT conversation due to his sheer longevity. There are many players who stick around the NBA, but nobody has been as dominant for as long as the future hall of famer.
Not only does he have the most points of all time, he has been in the NBA for 21 seasons and is still averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. That high level of play at such an old age has never been seen before in the sport.
LeBron also succeeded with multiple teams. Regardless of his supporting cast, the strong forward has put up incredible numbers and deep playoff runs. He won championships with three different franchises and went to eight straight finals. That’s something that might never happen again.
Conclusion
While there can only be one GOAT, Jordan and LeBron both have very good cases for the title. There are a few other superstars who come close or who creep into the conversation, but the Bulls and Cavaliers legends have the stats, rings, and prestige to go the distance.
In all likelihood, there will never be one consensus. Jordan’s perfect Finals record puts him above just about everyone, especially when backed up by his MVP awards, All-Defensive First Teams, and incredible number of scoring titles.
In contrast, LeBron won less but went to more Finals. He’s the best player in the modern era, and his longevity will remain unmatched for a long time. Both players are probably the two best ever, but choosing one over the other is something no one will ever agree on.
