“You got a Game 7 on the line… if I want to win a title” - Maxx Crosby on why he would pick Kobe over LeBron in his GOAT list

While the discourse surrounding the Greatest of All-Time in basketball is inherently subjective, the debate frequently centers on LeBron James and Michael Jordan. However, Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby recently presented a different perspective, stating that Kobe Bryant ranks superior in his GOAT ideology than The King based on his superior clutch genes.

Crosby on picking Kobe over LeBron

During his appearance on The OGs podcast, the three-time Pro Bowler expressed his profound respect for the 20-time All-Star, acknowledging how he has worked tremendously hard to be counted among the best players throughout his two-decade-long NBA career. Nevertheless, when delving deeper into a more precise pick, Crosby indicated his preference for KB24 and Michael Jordan over the four-time MVP in terms of overall greatness.

"My GOAT list, I'm taking Kobe over LeBron. I think LeBron like I respect his greatness. He's in the top three, no question," Crosby said . "But if it really comes down to it, in my opinion, you got Game 7 on the line. I'm taking MJ and I'm taking Kobe if I want to win a title. That's just my opinion."

Is Kobe better in the clutch than LeBron?

It is hard to overlook that upon closer examination, it does seem that Crosby's may be influenced by the overall aura of Kobe's Mamba Mentality. In his 18-year-long career, the 18-time ALl-Star has featured in six Game 7 and has lost merely once. While that has been impressive, his efficiency hasn't been at its best - as he has averaged 22.2 points on 38.9% shooting from the field, 37% from the 3-point range, and a relatively low (considering he shot 83.7% in his career) 67.3% from the free-throw line, along with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal per game.

On the other hand, James has played in eight Game 7s throughout his career, and while he lost twice, he has averaged 34.9 points on 48.7% shooting from the field, 33.3% from behind the arc, and 77% from the charity stripe, along with 9.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

So it does seem reasonable to conclude that while the four-time All-Star Game MVP's Mamba Mentality undoubtedly enhances the perception of his clutch performance capabilities, a thorough examination of statistical evidence suggests that the four-time Finals MVP has delivered more comprehensively in high-stakes scenarios.

Related: Allen Iverson on the GOAT debate: "I say Mike, I say Kobe, and then everyone else"