We should all just decide on Kareem as the GOAT because his resume is good enough and he doesn't inspire the sort of unhinged fandom and hating and bad faith takes that happen with the other guys, and he had a unique signature move which is a style points bonus.
Basketball culture has become toxic af, & we all know who started it.
Furthermore, I’m lol’ing at some of these old heads who grew up on 80’s & 90’s basketball trying to live vicariously through the social media age, trashing their era to keep up w/ the youngins.
LBJ said one play, one moment made him the GOAT which no worthy, credible superstar has ever said. MJ said he’s not the GOAT b/c he’s never got a chance to face the greats of old. In fact, MJ cringes when ppl come up to him saying he’s the GOAT. It’s a known fact that he rarely liked to sign autographs in his later life, but it’s an almost 0% chance u’ll get his autograph calling him the GOAT b/c he thinks it’s disrespectful to all those who came before him.
Guys like Nick Wright muddied the waters by creating false, disingenuous narratives w/ cherry picked stats, zero context, & half truths. The funny thing is, Nick contradicts himself often. Regardless, only these new NBA fans or social media clout guys chit on the past; MLB embraces their legends, so does the NFL & NHL.
Imo, MJ is the GOAT b/c he accomplished the same chit as Kareem in a shorter period of time, & MJ didn’t play w/ the likes of a Big O, Magic, Worthy, or McAdoo, but I’m not going to act like Kareem wasn’t that dude; & I was blessed w/ an opportunity to tell him that face to face randomly in Santa Monica on my lunch break. Kareem is my dad’s favorite player, told him that, & he signed a hat for him.
LBJ fans have created a new set of criteria to force him into the category, including making up bull chit about players not able to go left, & posting low lights of eras to create the new “We’re Done w/ the 90’s” bull ****. Let’s pretend Shaq didn’t have Shaqtin-A-Fool for the 2010’s-20’s, though. Lol.