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Jordan at his peak was better than LBJ at his peak. Here's the argument for LBJ:
-40k career points is insane
-Longevity and durability
-The talent pool was much deeper during LBJ's era, due to European players
-There was much more player movement during LBJ's era. Players teamed up to win rings while LBJ was around
-LBJ is the most versatile player of all time. If you were having an all time draft, he'd likely go #1 bc you can pick anyone at #2. You can't pick Kobe second if you pick MJ first, for example
-Losing in the finals isn't worse than losing before the finals
There's no wrong answer. It just depends what you value and how you define GOAT
Here’s the argument for LBJ:
1. Longevity
That’s it; yet, that argument wasn’t valid for
1. Stockton being the best point guard of all time
2. Malone being the best power forward of all time
3. Kareem being the GOAT (although some old heads view him as such)
4. Stockton being the greatest defender of all time
Here are the inflated facts about LBJ vs. MJ:
1. LBJ is a more versatile player than MJ
Well, that’s interesting b/c LBJ avg. only 2 more assist per game than MJ, 1 more rebound per game than MJ, while avg. less steals, the same amount of blocks, and more turnovers. He avg. 2 less shots than MJ per game for his career.
2. LBJ is a pass first guy
Again, he avg. 7.2 assist while taking 20 shots per game. Magic avg. 11.5 assist while avg. 13 shots per game. Stockton avg. 10.5 assist while avg. 9 shots per game.
Kids avg. 8.7 assist while avg. 11 shots per game
These r the definitions of pass first
3. Losing the Finals isn’t worst than losing before the Finals.
Lol. Since when? Did we hold this same criteria for Jerry West? Did we hold this same criteria for Elgin Baylor? LBJ is the only player to reach the Finals 10x & not have a winning record. In fact, he has the 3rd most Finals losses in NBA history. Furthermore, LBJ has missed the playoffs 4x, have been swept 2x, had a complete choke job in 2011.
4. LBJ makes his teams better
Does he? Fans point to Cleveland collapsing twice after he left, yet fail to acknowledge that both collapse happened AFTER all resources were used to build around LBJ including trading away players, and draft picks ONLY for LBJ to leave, those same players that were traded for to get traded, AGAIN, to reclaim draft picks to rebuild! Lol
They point to Miami in 2014-15, failing to realize that Bosh had season ending lung issues, Ray retired, Wade got hurt, & oh yeah, draft capital gone due to trades.
LBJ attempts to microwave results, and those results have come at the expense of the future.
5. Player movement
Well, guess who started that? Lol. KG, Allen, & Pierce got together in 2007 to chase a ring at the ends of their careers, no different than Barkley, Pippen, & Hakeem linking together in ‘98.
In 2007, KG was in his 13th season at 32 yrs old. Pierce was in his 10th year at 31 yrs old, & Allen was in his 10th at 32 yrs old.
In ‘98, Dream was in 15th yr at 35 yrs old. Barkley was in his 15th yr at 35 yrs old. Pippen was in 12th yr at 33 yrs old.
In 2010 LBJ joined Wade & Bosh. LBJ was in his 8th yr at 26 yrs old. Wade was in his 8th yr at 28 yrs old. Bosh was in his 8th yr at 27 years old.
This would be equivalent to MJ joining Zeke, & Bird in their primes. That seismic shift started the trend of “player movement.” The only player movement, however, has been LBJ & KD. LBJ has been on Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland, & now LA. KD has been on OKC, GSW, Brooklyn, & now Phx. Those two r the poster children of scotch hopping to chase rings, while crying they r GOATs. Lol
This is about LBJ stat stuffing: He knows that’s all he has.
LBJ has never built or sustained a dynasty
LBJ career accomplishments are still a 1st ballot HOF player away from MJ & he’s played considerably longer
It amazes me how longevity stats have become over blown.
MJ has:
More Rings (2 more) in a shorter period of time
More MVPs (1) in a shorter period of time
More Finals MVPs (2) in shorter period time
More DPOY (1) in a shorter period of time
More All Defensive Teams (3) in a shorter period of time
MJ’s peak was 13 yrs, my guy, culminating with him being the oldest player to:
Win the chip, Win the MVP, Win the Finals MVP, Make 1st team All NBA, Make 1st team All Def, Make 1st team, & win All Star Game MVP all in the same season.
LBJ is also the first player to miss the playoffs while
1. Being the NBA Finals Favorite
2. Having 3 or more NBA Top 75 players on one team
LBJ has a lot of holes in his resume compared to MJ, Kobe, Kareem, Magic, & other legends. His legacy is based upon stats compiling, not substance.
Lastly, the era of European players is interesting. Jokic & Luka, specifically said it’s easier to play in today’s NBA than Europe. That’s an issue; The NBA was much more difficult for European players to adjust to in the 80’s - early 2000’s. The rule changes have made it **** near impossible to play defense, & guys coming over from countries where goal tending & paint occupation is allowed, along w physical contact are eating American basketball up. That’s not a good thing for LBJ; it shows he’s playing in a much more watered down, arcade like league. The fact he’s not dominating this league despite the help he has is even more of a black eye.
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