LeBron James has been playing at a level that hasn’t been seen in the NBA since Michael Jordan was retired. However, Marcus Spears isn’t buying what he is selling and feels like LeBron is overrated compared to MJ.
The “LeBron is the Greatest” is a bold statement made by former NFL player Marcus Spears. He recently declared that LeBron James is the GOAT over Michael Jordan, in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols. Read more in detail here: michael jordan says lebron is the goat.
There’s probably nothing LeBron James can do right now to convince Michael Jordan followers that he’s the GOAT, but his recent performance is difficult to overlook. For the Los Angeles Lakers, James has done a little bit of everything, demonstrating that age is only a number by putting up some enormous figures in his 19th season.
Marcus Spears, an ESPN commentator and former NFL player, isn’t oblivious to what he’s doing. Spears recently claimed on television that James was the GOAT above Jordan.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James has been on a tear.
On Dec. 29, 2021, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers watches a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. | Getty Images/Justin Ford
The Lakers have had a difficult start to the season, but it hasn’t been due to LeBron James.
Despite turning 37 on December 30, James is averaging 28.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists for the Lakers. He also has a 52.0 percent field goal percentage.
In December, LeBron has also been unstoppable. In his past six games, he’s averaging 34.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. James also has a 57.0 percent field-goal percentage and a 40.4 percent 3-point percentage.
Simply said, the King is doing things that we’ve never seen from someone his age before. As a result, Marcus Spears has dubbed him the GOAT.
Over MJ, Marcus Spears dubbed LeBron the GOAT.
Marcus Spears, a former Dallas Cowboys defensive end, has always been a fan of LeBron James, and during a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take, he gushed over the four-time champion’s recent performance.
On the Dec. 29 broadcast, Spears remarked, “He’s the best basketball player I’ve ever seen.” “I know this debate is all over the place, but LeBron James is the best in my opinion.”
Spears then applauded James for continuing to improve his game despite already being one of the top players in the world. For example, as a terrible shooter, he won three MVPs before hitting over 40% of his long-range shots in 2012-13. (another MVP season). He’s averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game this season, up from 1.5 in 2007-08 when he was the NBA’s leading scorer.
“I have a lot of respect for the amount of effort he put in, even after being regarded as the greatest player in the NBA,” Spears, 38, said. “… I’m sure that supporters of MJ will battle tooth and nail to keep him alive. I’ve never seen a basketball player as good as LeBron James. And I think he’s the greatest basketball player of all time.”
In terms of what people want to see out of a player, the analyst conceded that it came down to personal choice, but he went on to say that no one has ever seen “this sort of basketball player before” in reference to LeBron.
The current success of LeBron James adds to his GOAT case versus Michael Jordan.
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Saying that LeBron James’ latest performance is a major reason why he is the GOAT isn’t always accurate. It’s hardly an apples-to-apples comparison between his late-career success and Michael Jordan’s later-career performance.
Jordan retired at the age of 37, but returned to the league at the age of 38 with the Washington Wizards, and he wasn’t even close to playing at the same level as James this season. At the age of 38, MJ averaged 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, while at the age of 39, he averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
So, if you already believe James is a close friend of Jordan’s, you’ll have to consider his longevity while deciding between the two. Jordan barely lasted 15 seasons in the NBA and became a shadow of his former self as he grew older. LeBron James is in his 19th season and shows no signs of slowing down.
Overall, the GOAT discussion between LeBron James and Michael Jordan will go on indefinitely. While James’ recent performance should not be the primary basis for people considering him the best, it should be taken into account. He’s been unstoppable, and he’s showed fans something they’ve never seen before from a player his age.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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