Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest player of all time, thanks to his phenomenal performances with the Chicago Bulls . For years, MJ was all alone at the top, with no player directly challenging his throne.
However, it all changed when the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron James as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Even though James went to the league straight from high school, he was viewed as the next big thing in the league.
Despite being burdened with the constant comparisons to Jordan from his first day in the NBA, the King has done justice to the humongous expectations, so much so that he is now viewed as the GOAT in the eyes of many players and analysts.
Udonis Haslem settles the GOAT debate
In a recent episode of The OGs podcast on YouTube, Udonis Haslem was joined by renowned NBA insider Shams Charania. One of the major topics discussed was Charania’s NBA GOAT pick.
While Shams skilfully dodged the question and gave a stoic response to the debate, Haslem didn’t hesitate in naming his GOAT during the podcast.
“ I tell this to people all time the time. My GOAT is MJ. The GOAT is LeBron,” Haslem stated .
The recognition of the greatest of all time is something that can never be truly settled. After all, the NBA is an ever-changing league, and every individual has different requirements for a player to be their GOAT.
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Has LeBron surpassed MJ?
Regardless of what anyone might say, if an average basketball fan is asked who is the greatest to grace the court, the chances are they will take Michael’s name. After all, the Bulls legend spearheaded the league’s global growth during the 1990s.
Even today, players and fans worldwide view him as the greatest basketball player of all time. But does this mean James can sit on MJ’s throne?
To be honest, the biggest argument against the Lakers superstar’s GOAT case is his tainted NBA Finals record. He has a 4-6 record at the biggest stage in the league. On the other hand, Jordan boosts a spotless 6-0 record in the NBA Finals.
With Bron turning 40 years old later this year, it’s hard to see him add another couple of rings to his name. But if there’s a player who can beat all the odds in the NBA, it’s none other than the King.
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