Who really is the G.O.A.T. ?
And does it really even matter?
What About Eras?
Any fan of basketball has heard it. Every morning sports talk channel revisits it almost monthly — especially when the NBA playoffs come around. Who is the greatest basketball player of all time?. Two names seem to be thrown into the mix as far the G.O.A.T. debate is concerned. If you reading this are indeed a basketball fan, you know exactly what these two names are — Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Both of these incredible players have had remarkable careers. Jordan finished with a perfect 6/6 NBA Finals record, countless All-NBA selections, multiple All-Defense teams and scoring champion awards, 5 regular season MVPs, and a DPOY to just name a few. Bron is obviously still playing, which is an incredible feat in its own right at age 36, but over the years he has accrued 4 NBA Championships, 4 MVPs, countless All-NBA selections, a scoring championship, 6 All-Defensive selections, and many other awards. When we add in various other players of all-time glory like Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt, Bill Russell, and the like, it is quickly recognized that none really come close to the greatness of Jordan or LeBron. But see, that is totally fine. Each of these players were incredible in their own respect. Another crucial thing to keep in perspective here is that each of these players were in the prime of their career in various decades. — Kobe in the 2000s, Larry and Magic in the 80s, Kareem in the 70s, Russell and Wilt in the 60s.
Evolving
One of the hardest, and most frivolous in my opinion, components of comparing the greatest talents in basketball history is the unnecessary extrapolation statistics throughout the decades. It is a fact that basketball in the 1960s and 70s was very different from basketball in the 2000s and now the 2020s. Why should we bother ourselves with comparing the great careers of Russell and Wilt with the modern NBA? To me there is no reason behind it. Those that attempt to predict how many points Bill Russell would score per game in 2021 are just wasting their breath.
MJ = VO?
So, back to the real G.O.A.T. debate. I have heard some wild predictions over the years from comments exclaiming Michael Jordan would be no better than a Victor Oladipo in the modern NBA to ideas that Mike would average 50 in today’s league. The same can be said for LeBron James. Some view his physical prowess as indicative of his dominance during the 90s and others believe he would not make it in a physical, rough league with ample hand checking.
Closing Thoughts
What is the actual answer, then? Well, we will never know, and I think that’s best for basketball. LeBron did not play in the 90s, Jordan did not play into the 2000s past 2003. Let’s just leave it at that. Why can’t we just accept that both men are extraordinary talents who have changed the game of basketball in their own ways. We, as fans of the game, should focus less on rankings and more on enjoying great talent while it is still around. Talent does not last forever. The more time we waste arguing over all-time rankings, the less time we have to appreciate the Steph Currys, Kevin Durants, and LeBron James’s of today. Regardless of who you may view as the best basketball player to ever live, we can all agree on at least one piece of common ground — we love the game. Let’s show appreciation for what is in front of us and leave the rankings behind.
Grant Fuerstenau is a Medical Student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
