Former NBA big man Greg Oden has entered the GOAT conversation, and while his personal favorite may surprise some fans, he also gave credit to a more familiar name. Speaking recently, the former No. 1 overall pick revealed that David Robinson was always his idol growing up, but believes LeBron James is poised to finish his career as the undisputed greatest player ever.
“My personal greatest of all time is David Robinson,” said Oden, via HoopsHype. “He’s my favorite player. That’s who I grew up watching. That’s who I grew up trying to be like. But I honestly feel like by the time this guy retires, there’s going to be no more evidence against him, and that’s LeBron James.”
Greg Oden’s career stands as one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history. The 7’0″ center was drafted first overall in 2007 and was projected to become a star for the Trail Blazers. Unfortunately, Oden’s development was derailed by injuries that limited his ability to break out. He only played 105 games in the NBA, a tragic and unfortunate end to a promising career.
While Oden has been out of action since the 2013-14 campaign, he still often reflects on his time in the league and the many hours he spent in the gym preparing for his ascension. As a center, it makes sense that Oden looked up to David Robinson growing up. The Spurs legend was everything you could want in a star big man, being renowned for his defense, rebounding, and interior shot-making. He averaged 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game on 51.8% shooting for his career.
When it comes to the GOAT debate, however, Oden cannot deny how strong LeBron’s case is. While he may not have more rings or MVPs than Michael Jordan (6x champion, 5x MVP), LeBron does have a 22-year track record that includes four championships, four MVPs, 21 All-Star appearances, and six All-Defensive selections. With 42,184 career points, James is also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
The question is, what more can LeBron add before he calls it a career? Even last season, at 40 years old, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting. With him and Luka Doncic leading the way, the Lakers have a real chance to challenge for a top seed in the West and add another title to his resume.
Whatever happens next, you could make the case that LeBron’s case is strong enough to hold up as is. He’s done everything there is to accomplish in the basketball world, winning several MVPs and a championship with three different teams.
