“LeBron James’ Pursuit of Michael Jordan Fading Away”: How Lakers Star’s Loss to Devin Booker in 2021 Affected GOAT Debate

Nithin Joseph | 21/04/2023
"LeBron James' Pursuit of Michael Jordan Fading Away": How Lakers Star's Loss to Devin Booker in 2021 Affected GOAT Debate

LeBron James is a man chasing the status of GOAT. Ever since he was drafted into the league in 2003, The King has had huge expectations set upon his shoulders. After all, he is the man everyone revered as the “next big thing”.

As of 2023, LeBron is closing out his 20th season in the NBA. A marvelous achievement that pays testimony to his longevity. But, what has he accomplished in this timeframe? The answer? Quite a lot.  Not only is King James a four-time MVP, but he also has four NBA Championships to his name.

His latest one came in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. A definitive win, and one that many thought would lead to further success. However, the following year saw him crash out in the first round to eventual finalists, the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker and Co. were so resplendent, that by Game 5 many began wondering if Bron would ever catch up to the great Michael Jordan.

The Phoenix Suns’ Game 5 blowout win against the Lakers in 2021 had many questioning the legacy of LeBron James

In 2021, the reigning NBA champions, the LA Lakers entered the post-season hoping to have a repeat of the previous year. But, given their performance in the regular season, it looked highly unlikely. After all, the Lakers had barely scraped through the Play-in tournament.

To make things worse, they faced off against Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. A team that finished second in the West. Nevertheless, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the line-up, anything should have been possible for the purple and gold. Alas, by Game 5, the series looked all but over.

The Phoenix Suns cruised to a 3-2 lead, with a blowout 115-85 win over The King and his subordinates. The loss was a tough pill to swallow, but to add insult to injury, LeBron’s legacy was called into question. In particular, his relentless pursuit of Michael Jordan, which many after the loss, believed was finished.

The Lakers did end up losing that series and have struggled ever since. They failed to make the post-season in 2022, and once again got through to the Play-In by the skin of their teeth in 2023. Results that only widen the gap between LeBron and MJ.

King James managed to inch closer to Michael Jordan’s GOAT title after breaking the all-time scoring record

At the age of 38, the chances of LeBron James surpassing or even reaching Michael Jordan’s six NBA Championships are highly unlikely. Nevertheless, The King can still prove he is the GOAT in other categories. And on February 7, 2023, he did just that, breaking the all-time scoring record previously held by another great, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Granted, there are those who will not accept this submission. To them, His Airness will always be the greatest. But, at the end of the day, it looks like no number of rings or points will ever end this debate.

Post Edited By: Amulya Shekhar

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.

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