- Darvin Ham was asked by a fan about who is the GOAT
- The coach backed LeBron James as the greatest of all time
- LeBron James’ GOAT case is based on longevity
The GOAT debate is a topic that entices both fans and analysts alike, and there’s no doubt that many people have strong opinions on the topic. The two main candidates for the honor are Michael Jordan and LeBron James, with each of the players having groups of fans that are ready to argue their GOAT case.
Recently, Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham spoke out on the GOAT debate. He claimed that LeBron James is the GOAT when speaking to a fan at a recent football game.
“Bron is the GOAT”
– Lakers HC Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/Ed8Z5V9gbH
— ²³ (@SpeakContext) September 15, 2023
There’s no doubt that LeBron James has a fairly good GOAT case. His longevity is second to none, and he has won four championships as the best player on a team. Though he doesn’t necessarily have the same peak as Michael Jordan, many believe that his continued excellence is deserving of a GOAT case.
This past season, LeBron James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. He is still dominating at the age of 38, and perhaps James can lead the Lakers to a championship next season.
LeBron James Consistently Switching Teams Hurts Him In The GOAT Debate
The one thing that LeBron James is consistently criticized for is switching teams. In fact, Knicks legend John Starks believes that LeBron James has hurt his legacy compared to Michael Jordan by doing so.
“LeBron is hurting his legacy by switching NBA teams so much that it will affect his standing when it comes to LeBron vs. Jordan debates. Mike didn’t move around, didn’t want to move around. He wanted to play against the best. He felt like he didn’t need to go chase players to join his team to beat the best because he felt like he was the best, and I think that’s the difference.”
There’s no doubt that many fans value loyalty to one franchise, and thus penalize LeBron James for creating new superteams. However, there are times when leaving to win is absolutely fair: during LeBron James’ first stint with the Cavaliers, the team failed to surround him with a championship core. He then joined the Heat and won two championships, and it was clearly the right decision. Still, it is clear that some, such as John Starks, do not agree with the idea LeBron James needed to leave to win at the highest level.
Eddie Johnson Believes That LeBron James Had It Harder Than Michael Jordan
Many believe that LeBron James has dealt with more struggles in the league than Michael Jordan. In fact, former NBA veteran Eddie Johnson once explained why LeBron James has it harder than Michael Jordan did during his era.
“If you wanted to find out something about Mike, you had to turn on the radio or you had to get up and buy a newspaper. For LeBron, it’s basically wake up, pick up your phone, and you’re right there. Yes, he is definitely living in an era where people are more critical and half the people that are criticizing him don’t know jack s— about basketball.”
It is true that social media wasn’t invented back in the 1990s, and there was a lot less scrutiny and eyes on Jordan overall as compared to James today. Still, it is tough to compare the two as they played in different times, and at this point, it is fair to say that each player is the GOAT of his era.
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