The GOAT debate was always bound to heat up once more after LeBron James passed Karl Malone on the NBA’s All-Time scoring list. Fans and analysts that support LeBron’s case were quick to start anointing him as the greatest ever once more, leading to fans on the other side of the argument accusing LeBron of merely chasing stats. Chris Broussard has a nuanced take on the matter but stayed firmly in the MJ camp, but Nick Wright is not on the same page.
Nick Wright has been one of the most vocal supporters of the idea that LeBron James is the GOAT and not Michael Jordan, and his takes often include discrediting MJ by bringing up the times that he did fail. Jordan was not perfect so he has his flaws, but Wright’s latest sentiments are a bit wild, to say the least.
An NBA fan shared an image of Michael Jordan, with a tweet suggesting that if MJ has chased stats then he would’ve been the GOAT statistically as well. Wright took exception to this, responding to the tweet by taking shots at Jordan for his multiple retirements and his inability to beat Larry Bird, for example.
Naw, but maybe tell him not to quit the sport twice, try to beat Larry Bird a single *game* in the playoffs & to not wait to until he was 25 to finish above .500? 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ https://t.co/fqW76zaiCv
— nick wright (@getnickwright) March 22, 2022
DrGuru_: “I wish I could go back in time and tell Michael Jordan to focus on stats instead of winning since that’s what the GOAT debate is all about.”
Nick Wright: “Naw, but maybe tell him not to quit the sport twice, try to beat Larry Bird a single *game* in the playoffs & to not wait to until he was 25 to finish above .500?”
Michael Jordan indeed struggled in his early years in the league thanks to an exceptionally poor Chicago Bulls team. He also never beat Larry Bird in the playoffs but played well enough for the Celtics legend to call him ‘God’. As for the retirements, there were extenuating circumstances on both occasions, so that’s again a bit harsh from Wright.
LeBron James will never be able to surpass Michael Jordan’s prime and even matching his tally of total championships now seems incredibly improbable. This won’t stop the GOAT debate though, the longer LBJ can play the highest level, the longer these debates will continue.
