Does LeBron being 2nd best player in the NBA affect his GOAT chances?

[dontcallmesimple]

LeBron is in his prime and is the second best player in the NBA, how does this affect his chances being that players like MJ and even Kobe in their prime were the best players in the league.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Fouled out, meet simple.
Simple, say hello to fouled out.

 

[Heatles84]

LeBron is in his prime and is the second best player in the NBA, how does this affect his chances being that players like MJ and even Kobe in their prime were the best players in the league.

Who's the first? Durant? The guy that got beat by Lebron in the Finals?

 

[Wamu]

LeBron isn't the best player in the NBA right now?

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Jordan hurts Lebron's GOAT chances more than anything else.

 

[Heatles84]

Lebron will never be better than Jordan. I even admitted to this when he was on the Heat. Lebron should be trying to aim for being better than Magic who I have as the 2nd/3rd best of all-time as their skill sets are so similar.

Besides, Jordan went 6 for 6 in the Finals. I can understand Lebron losing in 2007. But those losses in 2011 and 2014 (the latter of which was more of a team loss) seriously impacted his right to say he had a better career then his airness.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

 

[trojanfan12]

Lebron will never be better than Jordan. I even admitted to this when he was on the Heat. Lebron should be trying to aim for being better than Magic who I have as the 2nd/3rd best of all-time as their skill sets are so similar.

Besides, Jordan went 6 for 6 in the Finals. I can understand Lebron losing in 2007. But those losses in 2011 and 2014 (the latter of which was more of a team loss) seriously impacted his right to say he had a better career then his airness.

Yeah, hard to elevate a star player with a losing record in finals appearances over any star player with a winning record in the finals. Much less over a star who was unbeaten in the finals.

 

[Gooch1034]

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

I like Durant don't get me wrong but is he really better than Lebron because of this year's MVP? Karl Malone won the MVP over Jordan in 1998, did that mean that Karl Malone was better than Jordan that year? Several other examples of the best player in the league not winning the MVP. Sometimes the award is based on politics more than anything else.

Not saying Lebron is the GOAT (that's Jordan) but I do think he's the best player in the game today (and I'm by no means a Lebron fan).

 

[Shanemansj13]

KD is the best scorer, but will never be the player Lebron is. NEVER!

 

[Shanemansj13]

Lebron will never be better than Jordan. I even admitted to this when he was on the Heat. Lebron should be trying to aim for being better than Magic who I have as the 2nd/3rd best of all-time as their skill sets are so similar.

Besides, Jordan went 6 for 6 in the Finals. I can understand Lebron losing in 2007. But those losses in 2011 and 2014 (the latter of which was more of a team loss) seriously impacted his right to say he had a better career then his airness.

I agree, BUT if he does something amazing like wins 3 or 4 rings in Cleveland. I think he could surpass MJ bc that would be an incredible feat. But I guess I am not being realistic.

 

[Heatles84]

I agree, BUT if he does something amazing like wins 3 or 4 rings in Cleveland. I think he could surpass MJ bc that would be an incredible feat. But I guess I am not being realistic.

Sorry have to disagree. Yes, 3 or 4 rings in Cleveland would be amazing. But Jordan was by far the most consistent in his career by the aforementioned Finals record. Keep in mind, Jordan also retired for two years during the middle of his prime years to try baseball out.

Some would like to say that Jordan would've won 8 straight if it weren't for him retiring. Seeing out how the Heat ran out of gas in it's 4th straight Finals, I would take that with a grain of salt.

At the end, winning a ring whether it's in LA, Miami, Cleveland.....even Milwaukee. It's still a ring. It's not more valuable in one place than another.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I agree, BUT if he does something amazing like wins 3 or 4 rings in Cleveland. I think he could surpass MJ bc that would be an incredible feat. But I guess I am not being realistic.

I know you said "BUT if", but honestly, he knows that's not going to happen which IMO is a big reason why he decided to go with the savior routine.

He's turning 30, and entering his 12th season. The mans an amazing physical specimen, but even so, how many more years will he be in his prime or improving before declining?

Call me crazy, but I don't see any championship this year, with or without Love.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Lebron will never be better than Jordan. I even admitted to this when he was on the Heat. Lebron should be trying to aim for being better than Magic who I have as the 2nd/3rd best of all-time as their skill sets are so similar.

Besides, Jordan went 6 for 6 in the Finals. I can understand Lebron losing in 2007. But those losses in 2011 and 2014 (the latter of which was more of a team loss) seriously impacted his right to say he had a better career then his airness.

James plays defense and has more of a complete game than Magic did.

 

[Heatles84]

James plays defense and has more of a complete game than Magic did.

I'm not even going to respond to this.

 

[Jims_Doors]

I'm not even going to respond to this.

In order to be that high on the pecking tree, you have to had played good consistent defense. Do you believe he did?

Magic's defense was "well just outscore them"

 

[Heatles84]

In order to be that high on the pecking tree, you have to had played good consistent defense. Do you believe he did?

Magic's defense was "well just outscore them"

The Showtime Lakers were definitely known for their defense as well. How do you think they got out to all of those fast breaks? Besides, they ruled the 80's and Magic has 5 NBA titles to his name. He must've done something right.

 

[Agent Orange]

If LeBron is not the best player in the league then who is?

Durant: won't feel the pressure to win a championship until LeBron retires; pretty much just a great scorer anyway
Paul: never been to the finals (and hopefully never will)
Duncan: too old
Kobe: too old, no longer pursuing championships
Melo: great scorer like Durant, and that's about it
Wade: busted knees
Westbrook: not the best player on his own team... yet
Howard: zero post moves and cannot shoot free throws
Harden: http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/...cussion/156713-ode-james-hardens-defense.html
Love: unaware the NBA has a postseason
Kyle Lowry: just on this list because I've been a fan of his since Villanova

 

[Jims_Doors]

The Showtime Lakers were definitely known for their defense as well. How do you think they got out to all of those fast breaks? Besides, they ruled the 80's and Magic has 5 NBA titles to his name. He must've done something right.

I didn't mention anything about team defense.