Former Brooklyn Nets star and Hall of Famer Julius Erving has said comparing Lebron James with Michael Jordan was “unfair”.
The topic of the NBA Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) has been discussed and debated for years, with Jordan, James, Kobe Bryant, and Bill Russell being frequently brought up in the conversation. However, it’s usually James and Jordan who have been compared the most, being considered the two best basketball players ever.
However, Erving had another opinion and tweeted that while James and Jordan have always been compared, eventually it all comes down to subjective assessment.
“People always make comparisons to people who are done. LeBron may play another six years LeBron may play one year we don’t really know. It’s very subjective,” Erving said.
Furthermore, according to Erving, it’s neither James nor Jordan the greatest player of all time, but Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
DR. J on GOAT debate: “I think it’s the fans argument, not the players argument. So I stay away from it. My all time greatest player is Kareem Abdul Jabbar.” https://t.co/DZcKwswWTj
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) August 29, 2022
“I think it’s the fans’ argument, not the players’ argument. So, I stay away from it. My all-time greatest player is Kareem Abdul Jabbar,” he said.
Fadeaway World contributor Gautam Varier wrote that Erving was not the only one to consider Abdul Jabbar as the NBA GOAT, citing that the former Lakers center did have an impressive resume. According to Varier, Abdul Jabbar has won a record of 6 MVP awards throughout his career, six championships, and remained the all-time leading scorer in NBA history to date.
Meanwhile, Erving himself had some influence and cultural impact on young basketball players. He was some of the most prominent stars in the ABA in the 1970s before joining the NBA. Dr. J won an MVP in 1981 and a championship in 1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Additionally, Erving has also been voted into the 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams due to his outstanding prowess and excellence on the court.
Differing opinions regarding GOAT of NBA
ESPN analyst and former player Jalen Rose also recently chimed in regarding the GOAT of basketball. During an interview in “Courtside Club with Rachel DeMita”, Rose picked MJ over King James. Rose also mentioned Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and Larry Bird as his chosen all-time starters.
“When you talk about the best players of all time, you ultimately start talking about who’s the G.O.A.T,” Rose said. “And when you talk about G.O.A.T., the first word is ‘greatest’ — that means, achieved more than somebody else,” Rose said.
“You don’t necessarily even need to watch them play to acknowledge that what Michael Jordan achieved just solely on the court is greater, it’s more than.”
Rose said what put Jordan on top is that MJ had won two separate three-peats in his career while James has none so far. However, James only has two championship titles short of Jordan.
Back in 2010, Jordan himself had the same opinion as Erving, saying that athletes of different eras couldn’t really be compared. The Charlotte Hornets owner said two people who haven’t even played in the same tournament couldn’t be compared despite having the same equipment, bringing up two golf giants Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as examples.
“First of all you’re never going to say who’s the greatest of all time. To me that’s more for PR and more for selling stories and getting hype,” Jordan said.
Air Jordan himself chimes in on the never-ending debate of Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James 👀
Does he have a point? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Y4IMGNr3Nq
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 21, 2020
Meanwhile, the current Nets star Kyrie Irving considered Bryant as the GOAT instead, having been one of Bryant’s understudies in his final NBA career days.
“When I say [Kobe is] Greater than playing this game, that doesn’t mean I’m knocking anyone else out, okay? F***, let me finish my story,” Irving said during a Twitch livestream.
“Greatest play this game for me! I don’t give f*** what you’re talking about. I don’t care about your stats.”
Regardless, the discussion about who’s the GOAT in basketball player likely will still occur among both the sports fans, experts, as well as among the players themselves.