Kobe Bryant Ranks Higher vs. M.J. & LeBron In GOAT Conversation Says Fox Analyst

For a little over a decade, there has been an ongoing debate of who is the G.O.A.T [the Greatest of All Time] in the sport of basketball between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. In 2018 James spoke of being the G.O.A.T on his program ‘More Than An Athlete,’ which could be seen on ESPN Plus at the time. Meanwhile Michael Jordan has never been heard publicly referring to himself as the G.O.A.T.

“That one right there made me the greatest player of all time. That’s how I felt, I was super ecstatic to win one for Cleveland because of the 52-year drought. I was super ecstatic, and the first wave of emotion was when everyone saw me crying. That was for all 52 years sports going on in Cleveland and I stop to think, I said that made you the greatest player of all time,” said LeBron James.

Meanwhile, players and fans alike who have seen both players play have come to Jordan’s defense and named him the G.O.A.T.

“There’s only one G.O.A.T,” says Spike Lee.

“I got love for LeBron [James], but the one G.O.A.T and also one record, Mike has never said he is the greatest. He’s never said that. The only person who has said it and deserved it was [Muhammad] Ali. He said 'I am the greatest.'”

Lee added, “I’m not saying that Michael doesn’t deserve it, he’s never said it before. He’s never said I’m the greatest.”

Last year [2020] Michael Jordan’s former teammate Dennis Rodman was asked to compare Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

“If you look at Michael over the years, the body of work that he’s done and look at LeBron’s body of work going on year 18. Michael [Jordan] is the greatest player ever and Mike has been injured one time. He never asked to sit out, he never asked for anything, only respect, said Rodman.”

In a recent interview with Bally Sports Network’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, the Herd’s Joy Taylor believes the late great Kobe Bryant should be higher in the G.O.A.T. conversation.

"We think of Michael as the GOAT, when, in fact, Kobe should be much higher in that GOAT conversation, said Taylor.

Earlier this year, Bryant was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame along with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett to name a few, and finished his career as Taylor said in the clip with 60 points in his final game in a Lakers uniform.