Latest news with #GOATdebate
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3 days ago
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"With LeBron, it was more like the little homie" - Kevin Garnett on why many players don't view LeBron James the same as Michael Jordan
"With LeBron, it was more like the little homie" - Kevin Garnett on why many players don't view LeBron James the same as Michael Jordan originally appeared on Basketball Network. It's been said before, but coming from Kevin Garnett, it lands a little heavier. This is a man who went to war for 21 seasons, left everything on the floor every night and never held back when it came to giving credit or talking trash. So when Garnett draws a line between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, it's less about stats or GOAT debate and more about legacy as seen from within the fraternity. It's about presence. It's about how one man redefined the game and another reengineered how long one could stay great. Jordan, the ultimate GOAT In his prime, Jordan was more than just a revolutionary player. He was a force of nature. Before James was crowned The Chosen One, Garnett, like nearly every teenager with a hoop dream in the '90s, saw Jordan as the blueprint. Not just the player to beat, but the one who seemed untouchable. "It's a different level of respect," Garnett said of how players categorize Jordan. "[...] he was my version of what basketball looked like. And with LeBron, it was more like the little homie. Here's the little homie growing up and man, little homie is getting better than everybody." "God damn ... I definitely talked some s— to him. I've definitely said some crazy s— to him. He's definitely said some crazy s— back to me," he added. This was the truth of that era. Garnett came into the league in 1995, just as Jordan returned from baseball and reclaimed the league like he never left. The Chicago Bulls were the apex predators and Jordan was the engine. Garnett entered that world as a teenager straight out of high school, wide-eyed but unafraid and found himself playing against his childhood idol. But James' story took a different arc. Drafted in 2003, eight years after Garnett, he was never the mythic figure lurking in the distance; he was the new kid coming in, learning on the fly, growing under the spotlight. And Garnett, still very much in his prime in the mid-2000s, saw James differently. He wasn't an untouchable figurehead, but as someone to test, to talk trash to, to try and shake. To Garnett, Jordan was the summit, James was the climber and from his vantage point, the reverence for Jordan wasn't just about talent, it was about timing, dominance and impact. Jordan's era had fewer distractions, less noise and more mystery that made him the undisputed all-time great in the eyes of weight of legacy Still, while Garnett places Jordan in a singular space of a status that is simply unattainable for most, he doesn't shy away from giving James his flowers, particularly when it comes to longevity. That's where Garnett, who played until 40, understands exactly what it takes to survive in the league for two decades, let alone remain the face of it. "You've gotta have that in you to be able to have those shoulders to carry it," the Hall of Famer said of James. "No man is perfect in this s— and there ain't no telltale book on how to do this s—. He's done a great f—ing job. I just felt like it was only right to give him that respect." Garnett battled with James in multiple playoff series, from the heated Boston Celtics–Cleveland Cavaliers rivalry to the Miami Heat–Celtics wars that defined the late 2000s and early 2010s. Garnett was never interested in befriending opponents, especially not those trying to dethrone him. But even in the fire, he saw the growth. The Kid from Akron became the Iron Man of the NBA. Jordan's dominance may have felt absolute, but it lived in an age of limited access and one-dimensional coverage. James has existed in 24/7 news cycles, constant social media surveillance and shifting expectations. And yet, over two decades in, he's still putting up numbers and rewriting what it means to be elite at 40-going-on-41. Garnett, who played against both, seems to understand that perhaps greatness isn't one thing; it morphs depending on the story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
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Brandon Jennings picks Kobe over MJ and LeBron in the GOAT debate: "That hit different for me"
Brandon Jennings picks Kobe over MJ and LeBron in the GOAT debate: "That hit different for me" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Oh, the all-so-popular GOAT debate, where everyone seems to have a different pick depending on who they watched, who they played with or who inspired them in their earliest basketball beginnings. For Brandon Jennings, the choice wasn't so close that it required a prolonged discussion. He went with what he knew best, the guy who defined his childhood and turned pressure into performance on the biggest stage in basketball. Kobe Bryant was his go-to guy. "Yeah, Kobe" answered Jennings when asked about his pick for the GOAT title. "And it's not that I don't know Michael Jordan. I was just eight years old, so me being a kid, being 12-13 and being able to feel the moments of Kobe Bryant winning Championships at the Staples Center. And being the part of that, that just hit home, that hit different for me," the retired lefty added. Growing up seeing Kobe's greatness Jennings grew up in Compton, California, surrounded by Lakers culture at a time when Kobe was stacking banners left and right (together with Shaq, of course) and rewriting the franchise's history books. By the time B-Jennings was in middle school, Bryant was already the face of the City of Angels and one of the most feared players the league had ever seen. For a kid like Brandon, those earliest memories stuck with him all the way to the days when he lit up the Association's hardwood, and now, well beyond his playing career, it's all said and done. After becoming a high school standout and a trailblazer by skipping college to play professionally in Italy, Jennings entered the NBA with plenty of buzz surrounding him. He hit the ground running, dropping 55 points in just his seventh career game, which is still one of the most explosive rookie moments in recent history. But despite the flashes, injuries slowly caught up with him and eventually shortened what could've been a much longer career. Still, his respect for Kobe never wavered. It was built in those early years, in that city, when winning championships in that purple and gold jersey meant everything in the deserves to be at the top of the GOAT debate Players who got the chance to compete against Kobe, or simply watched him dominate night in and night out, often place him higher on their all-time lists than analysts and metrics ever seem to allow. Jennings isn't alone in that feeling, and he's definitely not the first to defend the late Lakers legend's legacy in these types of conversations. Former teammate Matt Barnes has made that clear on numerous occasions. He's gone after media members and basketball voices who try to nitpick Bryant's resume or brush him aside when GOAT conversations come up, especially since Mamba's untimely passing. For Barnes, it's simple: if you were there, if you felt what it was like to prepare for him, play against him or watch him elevate under pressure, then you understand. Everything else is just empty talk. "I don't like the energy around it," Barnes said on the "All The Smoke" podcast episode. "I just don't like it. Because none of this weird talk was going on while he was here." For Jennings, it's not about numbers or debates on sports shows. It's about memories, emotion and that feeling he had as a kid watching Kobe dominate under the bright lights at Staples Center. And honestly, that's as valid a reason as story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
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"I think Jordan is still in his head" - Colin Cowherd believes LeBron James' unwillingness to take a pay cut means he accepted being number two to Michael Jordan
"I think Jordan is still in his head" - Colin Cowherd believes LeBron James' unwillingness to take a pay cut means he accepted being number two to Michael Jordan originally appeared on Basketball Network. The LeBron James vs Michael Jordan GOAT debate is one that sparks massive controversy every time a high-profile analyst weighs in with a new take. Colin Cowherd recently reignited that fire on his show, claiming that King James has seemingly accepted that he'll never surpass MJ in the eyes of NBA fans. According to Cowherd, LeBron's unwillingness to settle for a lesser paycheck and make sure of being the highest-earning player of the Los Angeles Lakers next season only shows how he doesn't prioritize winning like Jordan, who once stepped foot on the court for a $1 million while representing the Washington Wizards. "LeBron wasn't willing to leave $52 million on the table for a mid-level exception. LeBron's a billionaire. My take is with LeBron is that it's not about winning anymore. I think Michael Jordan's still in his head," the 61-year-old NBA analyst said on the latest episode of "The Herd." "He knows in the basketball community, he's never gonna catch Michael," Colin pointed out. Cowherd thinks LeBron will always be second to Jordan Cowherd also emphasized that Jordan holds a stronger emotional connection with fans. His legacy is filled with iconic moments that people can instantly visualize - whether it's the flu game or his game-winning jumper in the 1998 NBA Finals. In contrast, Cowherd argues that LeBron's most universally remembered moment might only be the chasedown block in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. While undoubtedly historic, Colin claims it doesn't match the broader mystic aura surrounding Jordan. If that wasn't enough, the veteran sports media analyst also proclaimed how Mike's brand power and singular loyalty to the Chicago Bulls elevate his legacy in ways LeBron's career - split across Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles - does not. Thus, Cowherd took the liberty to also suggest that LeBron has conveniently maneuvered out of every hopeless situation in his career. "Here's the difference: MJ makes you feel something, LeBron doesn't. You want to make you feel something about a product and Michael makes you feel that," Cowherd added. "Michael's richer, more memorable, bigger brand and he makes you feel something and LeBron doesn't. LeBron has kinda bounced around to the best basketball opportunity every chance he gets," Cowherd LeBron deliver in 2025-26? Safe to say that, in the minds of many, including Cowherd, LeBron is already cemented as the second-greatest player ever, but the door to the top spot is considered closed simply because he hasn't gone six-for-six in the NBA Finals like Jordan. However, if LeBron, now in his 40s, can somehow capture a fifth ring, the narrative could shift significantly. That level of longevity and sustained excellence might force even his critics to reconsider where he truly stands in basketball history. So while many may still choose Jordan, at that point, it won't just be about championships. If the Purple and Gold do manage to lift the Larry O'Brien this season, James' career can hardly be refuted as the greatest, or his legacy as the greatest player ever, who kept battling through skepticism from his first day to the last. It would be a hell of a story if James' can win a title in what is, perhaps, his final story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
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"Michael Jordan always took it to a point where he wanted to guard the best player" - Gary Payton unfolds why LeBron James cannot be the GOAT over Michael Jordan
"Michael Jordan always took it to a point where he wanted to guard the best player" - Gary Payton unfolds why LeBron James cannot be the GOAT over Michael Jordan originally appeared on Basketball Network. There's a reason the debates about the NBA's greatest player rarely fade with time. They live in memories, rivalries and in the words of men who actually played against legends. Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton, one of the fiercest defenders to ever lace up is one of those who faced legends. Michael Jordan and LeBron James are two of the most dominant forces the league has ever seen. And for Payton, the comparison on both isn't centered on stats, rings or even longevity. But in mentality, particularly, on the defensive end of the floor. Jordan's elite defense Before defensive metrics became mainstream, Jordan had established himself as a lockdown perimeter defender. And in the eyes of one of his arch rivals, that hunger separated him from the pack. "Michael Jordan always took it to a point where he wanted to guard the best player," Payton recalled. "Even with myself. Even if I started talking trash with him, he would always tell Scottie Pippen, 'I'm taking Gary tonight.' He would always take the best basketball player on that team." Payton, a man whose entire career was defined by his relentless defense and dogged competitiveness, has long been respected for more than just his accolades. He had the ability to suffocate opposing guards, he was part of a 1990s generation where physicality was worn like armour and Jordan was dominant in that era. MJ's 1987–88 season remains one of the most unprecedented all-around performances in NBA history. He ruled both ends. That year, Jordan led the league in scoring with 35.0 points per game, and was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, a combination that's practically unheard of. No other guard has ever pulled that off in the same season. He also made the All-Defensive First Team and led the league in steals with 3.2 per game, proving he was a nightmare for opposing offenses. To lead the league in scoring and steals while anchoring a defense good enough to earn DPOY honors and doing all this as a 6-foot-6 guard is a level of two-way excellence we rarely, if ever, see. Facing the challenge Just over a decade later, Payton had a feel of Jordan when the Seattle SuperSonics met the Chicago Bulls in the 1996 NBA Finals. Payton was in his prime, the league's Defensive Player of the Year and the engine of the 64-win Sonics team. Jordan, having returned from his baseball sabbatical just a year prior, was on a mission to restore Chicago's dominance. The two clashed fiercely in that series, verbally, physically, psychologically. And while Chicago won in six games, what stood out most wasn't just the Bulls victory, but Jordan's refusal to let someone else carry the defensive burden. That was Jordan's edge. It wasn't just about being better, he wanted to prove it and that, for Payton, is a major difference. James' greatness has always been a multifaceted marvel. His size, vision and longevity are unmatched in NBA history. He's the all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion and the only player to win Finals MVP with three different franchises. But for all that, perhaps Payton sees a different approach in how James manages his role and why that approach distances him from G.O.A.T. consideration in his book. "LeBron doesn't want to tire yourself out, because he does so much on his basketball team," Payton said. "It's a difference. Michael Jordan have a mindset of, 'I don't care if I do tire myself out, I'm gonna take this guy, because I'm gonna prove to him I'm a better basketball player.'" James is a master of the long game. He conserves energy for scoring bursts and playmaking duties. Throughout his career, he's been the primary ball-handler, facilitator and at times, the coach on the floor. That workload demands tactical pacing. But in doing so, he rarely insists on the defensive assignment that Jordan craved. James' game has evolved with modern spacing, switching schemes and positional fluidity, which often requires him to roam or rotate instead of taking the marquee matchup for an entire game. Jordan, on the other hand, played in an era that didn't allow rest in that way. Defensive matchups weren't handed out for efficiency. They were claimed out of pride. The idea of letting someone else guard the best player was almost offensive to the competitive core of someone like story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I'm just going to slap you right on the spot" - Charles Barkley's threat for everyone who had LeBron James ahead of Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate in 2017
"I'm just going to slap you right on the spot" - Charles Barkley's threat for everyone who had LeBron James ahead of Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate in 2017 originally appeared on Basketball Network. Right after the Golden State Warriors swept LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers back in the 2017 Finals, TNT's "Inside the NBA" host and a Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, wanted to remind the public once again that James was and never will be on the level of Michael Jordan. Barkley, who was drafted in the same year as Jordan in 1984, took his anger out on the media because he felt that they were the biggest reasons why the GOAT debate exists in the first place. "I'm just going to say this. Any media person that I see in person for the rest of my life, who try to tell me that LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan or competes like Michael Jordan, I'm just going to slap the hell out of him right on the spot. Right on the damn spot, no question asked," said Barkley. Barkley on why Michael is the GOAT The biggest gripe that Sir Charles has always had with The King is his mentality, which is why he could never consider James on the same level as MJ and even Kobe Bryant. Besides that, Barkley also thinks MJ has achieved more than LBJ with less years under his belt. There's also the fact that Jordan never lost in the NBA Finals considering that he's been in it six times and pretty much ruled the '90s, contrary to James, who lost six out of the 10 Finals he competed in. Barkley also respects the fact that MJ never formed superteams or recruited fellow superstars to play with him. Despite getting whooped by the Detroit Bad Boy Pistons in the late 80s, His Airness found a way to solve them instead of forming a superteam that could finally get rid of Isiah Thomas and his squad. "That's the one thing that I admired about Michael," said Barkley. "He just kept getting bigger and stronger and like 'Nah!' And I played with some guys who like 'No, I'm not going in there,' and that's one reason I'm always for Michael. Like 'We're going in there, brother.' And he kept coming until he got stronger, got bigger and knocked that wall down."Barkley doesn't even have James in his top six For as much as Barkley respects the NBA's all-time scoring leader as both a basketball player and person, the former player doesn't have him ranked in his personal top five list. He thinks that James just hasn't achieved as much on and off the court, contrary to the legends that came before him and pioneered the path for this generation of players. "First of all, I don't know where that came from. I've always said LeBron on my list; he's number seven all-time," Chuck noted. "I got Wilt, Kareem, Bill Russell, Michael and Oscar. I got Kobe 6 and LeBron 7." That's a bold take by Barkley but at the end of the day, it's his opinion on the GOAT debate. The former undersized forward has always been a pro Jordan guy and even if they're no longer on talking terms, he still has MJ's back to this story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
