The GOAT debate is one that keeps fans engaged in the crudest way possible, with fans from different eras coming together to discuss and argue as to who could genuinely be regarded as the GOAT in their sport.
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Now, with no set criteria for such a judgement, fans have their own set of theories and parameters tom judge who according to them should be conferred with the title of the GOAT.
For some it is individual performances, for others it could be NBA championships combined with individual brilliance, and for some it is just the overall impact of a player on and off the court.
Michael Jordan has been largely tipped to be the greatest basketball player of all time, thanks to his 6-0 record in NBA finals and how he has been able to put the game of basketball on the world map.
The closest competitor to Jordan in the GOAT debate is arguably LeBron James, whose all-round abilities have taken him into elite territory.
LeBron’s late-game free-throw unclutchness permanently disqualifies him from ever being mentioned in the same breath as the greatest player ever in any sport, Michael Jordan. MJ is the undisputed GOAT.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) November 26, 2018
The Goat! @ESPN‘s First Trailer For Michael Jordan Documentary, ‘The Last Dance’ https://t.co/mhdoG3n1SF #Sports #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/UAUmg8qj0B
— stupidDOPE.com (@stupidDOPE) December 28, 2018
With James still having close to 4-5 years left in the sport, he could very well overtake Jordan in terms of NBA titles and overall impact in the sport of basketball.
But for the time being, Jordan’s badge of honour is well intact.
Now, Jordan has always been very diplomatic when asked about the ‘GOAT question’, never really claiming to be one or naming another player as one.
However, a few days back, a social media post started doing the rounds, with a quote from Michael(one that was supposedly from Bleacher Report), wherein Jordan had admitted to the fact that LeBron was the GOAT. The research for this was carried out by Snopes, a publication that specialises in finding misinformation on social media.
The quote was around Zion Williamson and how people feel he is going to be the next LeBron James. Now, according to this social media post that went viral, Michael claimed that Williamson could never be as great as LeBron, who has the best overall game in the history of the NBA.
However, as you must have guessed, the quote isn’t really true.
While Michael Jordan has avoided the GOAT debate, he has weighed on in the question about who could beat him in a 1-on-1 match.
Jordan actually came up with a hilarious answer with regards to the 1-on-1 game, admitting that Kobe Bryant would be the only player who could beat him in such a duel, but that was only because he copied all of Jordan’s moves.
According to Michael Jordan, the only person in history who could ever beat him one-on-one is Kobe Bryant, but “only because he steals all my moves.”
— UberFacts (@UberFacts) December 23, 2018
“I don’t think I would lose,” Jordan said.
“Other than to Kobe Bryant because he steals all of my moves.” he added.
Who do you think is the greatest basketball player of all time?