Latest news with #AnniversaryTeam
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former Michael Jordan Rival Weighs in on NBA GOAT Debate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. One of the biggest debates in basketball, if not all of sports, is who the Greatest of All-Time is within the NBA. The vast majority of fans, media members, and players all agree that the discussion is between NBA legend Michael Jordan and current Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. More NBA news: Michael Jordan Accidentally Crashes Family Vacation Without Them Realizing James has challenged Jordan for the GOAT title in recent years, after taking over as the All-Time leading scorer in NBA history. But many still don't view him as the GOAT, at least not yet. Pretty much everyone has an opinion on this subject, and many former players have weighed in on things as well. Now, a former rival of Jordan has made his opinion known as well. Former NBA star Dominique Wilkins, who played against Jordan, has weighed in on the debate. Wilkins interviewed with Kyle Odegard of Esports Insider to give his thoughts on the matter. "I don't believe in the GOAT and all that stuff," Wilkins said. "How can you say a guy is the greatest of all-time when they haven't played against some of the guys that were the greatest of their era? Like a Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell. "But I will say this: Michael Jordan made six Finals and won six championships with the same team. And he won three championships after retiring to play another sport. Nothing like that has ever been done before. "MJ did some things that no one will ever do. So if I'm going with the best player to ever play, that's where my mindset sits. I'm going with Michael. That's no disrespect to anybody, but I'm looking at what he accomplished in a short period of time." CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Bob McAdoo pose for pictures after the introduction of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage... CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Bob McAdoo pose for pictures after the introduction of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. More Photo byWilkins played against Jordan while on the Atlanta Hawks in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The forward got to see him up close and personal, likely leading to him picking Jordan in this debate. More NBA news: Rich Paul Breaks Silence on LeBron James Remaining With Lakers But he also pointed out the main reasoning for people on why Jordan stands alone as the GOAT, which is the six titles in six tries. James has four NBA titles in 10 tries, with many people pointing to his six losses as being the weak point in his argument. Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 1,072 games with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. In comparison, James has averaged 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Lakers. More NBA news: Lakers Listed as Potential Landing Spot For All-Star Center Lakers Could Be in Position to Land Perfect Luka Doncic Co-Star For more on general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Michael Jordan's Agent Appears to Take Subtle Jab at LeBron James
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The timeless GOAT debate between two of basketball's most iconic figures—Michael Jordan and LeBron James—has entered yet another chapter. More NBA news: Lakers Superstar Luka Doncic Reportedly Turning Page With Conditioning Plan Jordan's long-time agent, David Falk, spoke with Abe Madkour of Sports Business Journal about various topics. Of course, the topic centered around Jordan at one point. Falk was asked who he believes is the G.O.A.T. He quickly answered Jordan. After that, he was asked about his No. 2 on his list, for which he then answered Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Kobe Bryant. Falk was then asked for his opinion on Lakers superstar LeBron James. The 75-year-old said that James might be among his top 10 players of all time and threw some shade at the four-time NBA champion. Michael Jordan and LeBron James interact after the presentation of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. Michael Jordan and LeBron James interact after the presentation of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo by"Probably," Falk said, before delivering the quote of the day: "I really like LeBron," he said. "But I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would've won 15 championships." Michael Jordan's longtime agent, David Falk, doesn't rank LeBron James as a top-two player of all time 'I really like LeBron, but I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would've won 15 championships.' (Via @SBJ ) — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 21, 2025 More NBA news: Knicks Star Karl Anthony Towns Drops Epic Hype Video Before Eastern Conference Finals The debate surrounding the greatest basketball player of all time continues to stir passionate responses from fans on both sides of the Jordan vs. James discussion. Much of the criticism aimed at Falk stems from his deeply rooted traditional views on the game—views that often reflect an older era of basketball. The legacies of Jordan and James have taken very different paths, each marked by unique challenges and triumphs. Jordan, selected by the Chicago Bulls in 1984, spent the majority of his career in the Windy City. Though the early years were filled with postseason disappointments, the Bulls eventually assembled a championship-caliber roster around him. Jordan then led the team to six titles during the 1990s, cementing his legacy with an unmatched run of dominance. James, on the other hand, began his NBA journey in Cleveland. Despite individual brilliance and a few deep playoff runs, the Cavaliers couldn't provide the necessary support for a title push during his first stint. In search of a better chance to win, James left for Miami in 2010—a move that many argue helped usher in the era of modern super-teams. He went on to win two championships with the Heat, followed by a historic title with Cleveland in 2016 and another with the Lakers in 2020. Both players have achieved greatness in different ways, but Falk, as Jordan's long-time agent and advocate, continues to steer the G.O.A.T. conversation in favor of his client, the five-time NBA MVP. More NBA news: Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins First Ever MVP Award, Beats Out Nikola Jokic For more NBA news and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
