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“LeBron James wants to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to further his ‘GOAT’ status”: Shaquille O’Neal divulges into the Lakers superstar’s plans on surpassing Michael Jordan

Samir Mehdi
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“LeBron James wants to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to further his ‘GOAT’ status”: Shaquille O’Neal divulges into the Lakers superstar’s plans on surpassing Michael Jordan

Shaquille O’Neal reveals that LeBron James will retire only after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in total regular season points to be the undisputed ‘GOAT’. 

Debates on whether LeBron James has surpassed Michael Jordan as the ‘GOAT’ amped up by tenfold when the former claimed his fourth championship, this time with the Los Angeles Lakers. There is a definitive argument for the Akron native to be considered the greatest of all time but the majority of the sentiment still lies with Jordan. 

The Lakers have bolstered their squad going into the 2021-22 NBA season and so the book hasn’t ended for LeBron James to cement his legacy as the ‘GOAT’ just yet. However, even if James does win a 5th title, it’s hard to believe that hardcore Jordan truthers would give in on their agenda of defending a man who went 6-0 in the NBA Finals.

Also read: “Michael Jordan is the ‘GOAT’ because Allen Iverson wasn’t 6’6”: Max Kellerman drops a hot take on the Sixers legend’s potential legacy compared to the Bulls icon

Shaquille O’Neal believes that LeBron actually has a plan formulated to end the debate once and for all and to have his name in the uppermost echelon of NBA history. 

Shaquille O’Neal claims that LeBron James has a plan on being considered the ‘GOAT’. 

Shaq recently appeared on the ‘Full Send’ podcast to talk about a variety of things ranging from his beef with Kobe Bryant in the early 2000s to the plethora of business ventures he’s involved in. When it came to LeBron James however, he doesn’t believe that he’ll ever come close to Michael Jordan. 

“No, LeBron won’t pass MJ. He’s definitely top 3. I know LeBron and I think this is his plan. I think he wants to pass Kareem. If you pass Kareem in points, we all gotta shut the hell up. Think about it, he’s going to have four rings; he’s already passed Kobe, Mike, now you pass up Kareem? If that doesn’t make him the greatest basketball player there then I don’t know what we’re talking.”

Also read: “Michael Jordan was actually easier to guard than Reggie Miller and Clyde Drexler”: John Starks’ shocking reasons why he had an easier time guarding the Bulls legend

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sits atop the regular season total points table with a daunting 38,387. LeBron James on the other hand is merely 3,021 points away from securing the top spot on this list. So, if he were to average about 22 points a game and played 70 games in each of his next two seasons, James would have no problem in accomplishing this feat. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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