Ray Allen is one of the NBA legends who had the rare opportunity to play against LeBron James and Michael Jordan. In fact, he even teamed up with "The King" when he joined the Miami Heat late in his career.
While Allen agrees that both icons are the GOAT in their own right, he believes that LeBron's passing ability is the only aspect in which he edged MJ. However, despite recognizing James' remarkable court vision, Ray-Ray reckoned that Jordan was still a cut above LBJ because he didn't really have a hole in his game.
"LeBron is probably one of the best passers that the league has seen. MJ, that's probably the weakest part of his game; you know he didn't pass a lot. But at the same time, MJ didn't have any other weaknesses in his game. And defensively, he was a two-way player. Defensively, he was incredible and just as dominant," Allen said on The Dan Patrick Show earlier this year.
MJ is still the GOAT
Allen is known for making sound judgments and analyses, especially when engaging in the most popular NBA discussion. Unsurprisingly, the two-time NBA champion chose Jordan over James.
According to Allen, he couldn't rank LeBron higher than MJ in the debate because "His Airness" had a better overall game than "The King." Ray-Ray pointed out that James is undoubtedly a top-5 player, but no other player has played at a high level in all categories like Jordan.
"LeBron is certainly a Top 5 all-time but playing against him and MJ, for me it's MJ all day long… MJ just had everything, from mid-range to three-point, post-up game and he could score and dominate in his position," Allen explained.
The GOAT debate is far from over
Allen's take on the NBA GOAT debate is deep, but some would be eager to refute it with their own observations.
Jordan fans argue his killer instinct, unmatched competitiveness, and perfect NBA Finals record make him the undisputed GOAT. On the contrary, LeBron supporters point to his versatility, leadership on and off the court, and statistical achievements as reasons why he should be considered the greatest.
In conclusion, Jordan and James have respectively left an indelible mark on the NBA, each with their unique skills, achievements, and impact on the game. However, the GOAT debate between them continues to spark passionate discussions among fans, analysts, and players alike.
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