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By now, you’ve all probably been in some type of discussion or debate about who the best NBA player of all time is, or was. Many people these days would say Miami Heat‘s LeBron James is the “GOAT” or, as it is known to you tech-lingo-impaired folks, the greatest of all time.
The Miami Heat are the league’s hottest team right now, and that comes at the right time because they are looking to repeat as world champs in the 2013 playoffs.
Well, just because the Heat are easily the best team in the league doesn’t necessarily mean he is the greatest player of all time. In fact, I don’t even believe he is–yet.
As big of a critic as I have been of James, he is one of the top three players in the NBA today. I would also put the ageless wonder Kobe Bryant and the young superstar Kevin Durant in that group.
Sure, he may be the best athlete out of all three, but the best? It’s highly probable.
Anyways, back to the original question. How many MVP awards would it take for LeBron to be considered the “GOAT”?
In my personal opinion, I truly believe that Michael Jordan will always be the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball. From his countless number of titles to his five MVP awards, the guy did it all.
He didn’t exactly need to win the MVP to prove his worth as he is widely regarded as one of the best athletes to ever play a professional sport. So could LeBron steal that distinction of “GOAT” away from Air Jordan?
James has won four MVPs to Jordan’s five. LeBron is a nine-time All-Star and he’s not even 30; Jordan was a 14-time all-star throughout his entire career. They are both Olympic gold medalists and NBA champions. What sets them apart are the number of NBA titles, which would, in turn, distinguish the good from the great.
Right now, at age 28, James has one NBA title and he’s on the right track to win his second in 2013. Jordan won six in an eight year span from 1991-1998.
I don’t think it has anything to do with the number of MVPs that James wins that will determine his label of “GOAT”, but the number of titles he finishes with in his career.
If James finishes with six or more titles before he retires, he will be the greatest of all time, simple as that.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
