If I was starting an all-time team and could draft any player in NBA history, I would take lebron 1 over MJ. I've said this for a few years and while I'm still in the HEAVY minority, I've noticed a lot more people coming to my side on this hypothetical. So my answer is yes.
MJ was the killler and Lebron is such a talented do it all mini tank. GOAT 2.0 Era Cavs has a chance if Love can score like this and Kyrie must step it up.
top 10 in my mind after this year's champion if they win it, if he can get one more chip i would put him top 5
If Lebron can beat this warriors super team to me I would say so and I love MJ. He's not slowing down so no matter what I think he'll eventually be the GOAT. This is similar so some people refusing to believe Tom Brady passes Joe Montana as the GOAT.
Top 5 if so. I'm with Wade and think GOAT is impossible unless he wins a few more rings as the best player. Switch Lebron's Cav/Miami team to west, he'd be in at most three finals and very likely to have less than three rings now. Quite a few top west teams can rest along the way and win least conference easily, before facing a tired and injured west conference finalist.
To the beat the warriors he will have to play at god mode so if he wins I think he has to be the GOAT. MJ would have never beaten a team this good.
Well if MJ didn't have Krause running circles around the rest of the league GMs would he be the goat? MJ spent 9 years without any rings, and only started winning when he got Pippen (2nd best wing player of the era), Rodman, Phil Jackson etc. Why is Lebron penalized for being in a good situation in the East but MJ is excused from his era where no other star had a competent team around him? MJ's best competitors were Stockton and Malone, and those two's teammates were just trashy roleplayers compared to Pippen, Rodman etc. I dont think Lebron is the clear cut goat if he wins (needs 1 more ring imho), but his resume would be as good as MJ.
Anybody who thinks LeBron will ever take over MJ is delusional. Does everyone have short term memory? Go ahead and Google this...LeBron James chokes again. I can't even count the videos, blogs and stories about the years of this guy choking. Yes, he has matured and turned into a winner BUT we are talking about the GOAT. Jordan's competitiveness, athleticism, IQ and clutch performances are unmatched (never lost a playoff series EVER w/HCA). Lebron has solidified his place amongst the best with his accolades but IMO not enough to knock Jordan off the mantle. Even after smoking the Warriors (which isn't gonna happen)
If GS (the most talented team ever, two MVP's under 30, 4 top 15 players in the league) is fully healthy and the Cavs win, then yes LeBron is the goat. It's basically an impossible task though.
Yes, I'd put Lebron above MJ (and would be the GOAT) if they beat this Warriors team with TWO MVP winners.
