Carmelo Anthony On Ring Culture’s Criteria: “Michael Jordan Is Not The GOAT, Bill Russell Is”

Carmelo Anthony thinks Bill Russell should be the GOAT for people who obsess over ring culture.

4 Min Read

Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony has made a strong statement about people holding onto championships as the defining factor while talking about players that are GOAT level. While discussing if Kevin Durant is a GOAT-level player, Anthony took a snipe at ‘ring culture’ by saying that Bill Russell should be their GOAT over Michael Jordan

“What is the criteria to being the GOAT? Is it six rings? If that’s the case, we are talking about ring culture, Michael Jordan is not the GOAT. Bill Russell is the GOAT if we are talking about ring culture.” 

Carmelo brought this point up after endless conversations about Durant as a GOAT-level player. Anthony, among many other NBA players, thinks Durant deserves to be discussed as a GOAT for how he’s influenced the modern game. Anthony spent a big chunk of his prime competing against Durant, who won multiple scoring titles over Carmelo. 

Ring culture has poisoned many conversations around great players, as many superstars haven’t been appreciated correctly because of their lack of rings. The modern era is full of players like that, with influential players such as Paul George, James Harden, and Chris Paul, still looking to win their first title.

Meanwhile, winning more rings seems to be a necessity for LeBron James to finally dethrone Michael Jordan’s status as the GOAT of basketball, despite James outperforming Jordan’s NBA career through his longevity.


Carmelo Anthony Opens Up On The GOAT Debate Between Michael Jordan And LeBron James

Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James have been friends since the pair were in high school, so Melo has seen LeBron from the start of his career to the excellent stage he is at as a 39-year-old. He got real on the GOAT debate, discussing how Michael Jordan set a benchmark of excellence that inspired LeBron to continue achieving great things in basketball to reach the same level. 

(Starts at 17:17)

“Mike did it already. He’s the target… But then you have a young man who comes and understands that, ‘That’s what I am coming for.’ In the same way, MJ was talking about coming for 11 rings. Bron sees that. He’s inspired by that, he’s motivated by like, that’s my idol. He set the tone for greatness and I want to be like the person I followed, which is greatness, so I am going on a journey to be great.”

He said that LeBron has put together a body of work where he can finally be compared to Jordan as a realistic contender for the GOAT. Many people are still waiting for LeBron to match Jordan’s ring count, but even if that doesn’t happen, LeBron has arguably the strongest case outside of MJ for the crown of GOAT.

When it comes to players like Kevin Durant, they’re in the conversation as GOATs of their era. But the question of the GOAT of basketball has always been narrowed down to three names, who are MJ, LeBron, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. We can appreciate Durant’s greatness and value him as a top-ten player, but it’s hard to make an objective case for him over the other two, even if he wins a title in Phoenix.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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