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LeBron James – GOAT Status Achieved?

Alongside many others, I grew up with the undivided belief that Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever grace an NBA basketball court. His combination of speed, power, magical touch, and winning ability has put him firmly at the top of the NBA’s all-time list for the last 30 years. This longevity has enabled him to be one of the most successful and celebrated athletes of all time; even after his numerous retirements. Throughout his career, Michael Jordan set the bar so astronomically high, that many believed there would never be another as good as him and it was inconceivable that there would be anyone better. However, as of recently, only one name is starting to overtake that of the great Michael Jordan, and that is LeBron James. 

Modern statistics have made it very easy for the regular sports consumer to separate one player from another and therefore then feel obligated to say which one is better than the other. Through this method, it is very hard to disagree with the fact that LeBron James is in fact a better basketball player than Michael Jordan ever was. LeBron leads over Jordan in almost every significant statistical category including points, rebounds, and assists; whilst also competing in more regular-season and playoff games. On the other hand, something that Jordan does hold over LeBron is his winning ability. Over 17 NBA seasons, Jordan went undefeated in the Finals; winning 6 NBA Championships in 6 attempts, whilst also being awarded Finals MVP on every occasion. In contrast, LeBron has won only 4 NBA Championships in the same number of seasons. 

 

However, as die-hard basketball fans like myself know, real greatness is not found in the numbers. Real greatness is found through only 3 major intangibles that echo through all of sport; Longevity, Success, and Legacy. Over the 74 NBA seasons, there have been throughout history, there are only a handful of players that can stake their claim to these three intangibles; none of them, however, have done it like LeBron James. 

 

He has dominated in 17 consecutive NBA seasons, in which there is no ending in sight. Longevity. He has collected 4 MVP awards, 4 NBA Championships, 4 Finals MVP awards, 16 All-Star Game Appearances, 13 All-NBA First Team Choices, 2 Gold Medals,
and Rookie of the Year (2003/2004). Success. He has created an image of elite play and sportsmanship; maintaining an idolizing public image that has paved the way for young athletes across the world to follow. Legacy. 

 

In conclusion, it is extremely hard, neigh impossible, to decide who the greatest basketball player of all time will be. So instead, we must enjoy and relish the fact that within 40 short years, we have witnessed the rise and retirement of His Airness and the seemingly eternal reign of King James; two of the most revering and dominating athletes of all time. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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