The Debate that Goes Into Infinity: Who is the GOAT?

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SteemSports Presenter: @dwin0603

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SteemSports Editor: @theprophet0

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Who is the G.O.A.T.? Everybody can’t stop talking about it. It seems like in every generation, there is one player who seems to make a name and perform like no other. But if you’re going to ask who the greatest player of all time is, maybe we can get the best answers from the people who played the game, a man who played the sports and specially the all-time greats. And now, to simply end the argument, let’s hear what the greatest players think of who is the best basketball player of all-time. Let’s hear their opinions about this never ending debate and decide for ourselves of whom we think is the GOAT. Every time people talks about the GOAT, Michael Jordan is always on top of their list. Jordan is the best scorer in NBA history with no doubt. He has a million moves and a killer instinct. He will destroy you night in and night out. He’s also a lockdown defender who can check you and take you out of your game with his pesky defense. Players were tend to be scared of Michael and didn’t want to guard him.

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Jordan finished his career with a stat of 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, shooting 49.7 percent from the field including 32.7 percent from long range. He also finished his career shooting 83.5 percent from the free throw line with an outstanding 27.9 player efficiency rating. Jordan is a 6 time NBA Champion, 11 time All-NBA, 5 time MVP, 10 time scoring champion, 6 time finals MVP, 9 time all-defensive, 14 time all-star and 3 time all-star MVP. When you look at all these awards, you will realize that only the greatest could achieve all of those. And when you ask Michael of who he thinks is the goat, his vote for the greatest player of all time goes to himself. He also stated that the only player who could’ve beaten him was the prime Kobe Bryant. He also said that Kobe stole all his moves.

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In 1985, after getting head to head with a 22 year old rookie Michael Jordan, the reigning MVP Larry Bird said that Jordan is the best player ever. Also in 1998, Bird again said that Jordan was the best player in the world. But all of these statements are said before other greats are still not even in the league. But it was Larry Bird, and his statements sure make an impact on other people’s opinion. In an interview a long time ago, Magic Johnson was also asked the same question and he responded with the same answer. Jordan is the greatest player of all-time in his opinion with no doubt. The great Bill Russell also agreed that the greatest was Michael Jordan and he could not imagine any player who can play better and achieve what Michael has done to the game of basketball. Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson doesn’t agree that Jordan is the best player of all time and his exact words were, “Sure he won six championships, Russell won eleven. There are other players on these teams when they play. They don’t play by themselves. Is Michael Jordan the greatest player of all time? No, I don’t think he is.” But when asked about LeBron James, Robertson said that LeBron is in a class of his own. He didn’t mention a name of who he thinks is the GOAT but by hearing his statements, I think he is in favor of LeBron.

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Kareem Abdul Jabbar said that for him, Wilt Chamberlain was the greatest scorer of all time but he believes Robertson was the greatest player of all time. One of the best point guards in the history of the game, Isaiah Thomas said that Jordan is the best player of all time when he was still playing but when he’s not in the league anymore, he changes his mind and said the Kareem is the greatest. But recently in 2017, Isaiah Thomas now believes that LeBron James is the GOAT. For the most dominant big man to ever play the game, Shaquille O’Neal also thinks that Michael Jordan was the best player all time. “Michael Jordan is definitely the best basketball player of all time. He’s the greatest offensive weapon to ever play, and probably the best defensive player we’ve ever seen.” Shaq said. Michael Jordan’s teammate Scottie Pippen thinks that Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, but recently he stated that LeBron James surpasses Michael Jordan as the GOAT. LeBron James has an argument especially when you watched him play last season. He’s incredible. There will be no other player who can do what he did to bring his team to the NBA finals. Shaquille O’Neal thinks LeBron James’ legacy was already solidified. He said that James’ three titles are enough. “Somebody told me a long time ago, they said your book is already set. You can add index pages toward the end, but your book is already set. So LeBron's book is already set," Shaq said in an interview. "He done already passed up legends; he done already made his mark, he has three rings. He thinks that LeBron’s mentality now is that he has to get four rings before Golden State’s Steph Curry get four. "But if I was him, I wouldn't be trying to get four, five and six because it isn’t going to matter. It's just something else to talk about, something else to add to the pages. He's a legend, talked about as who is the best between him and Michael Jordan, so he's set." This never ending debate will be forever argued by basketball fans. Every fan, every people had their own take and opinions but it doesn’t matter. All of these men are all time greats. They have different stories and different legacies. But all of them shared great things throughout their careers even if it was inside or outside the court. They’ve become role models and inspirations to other people so let’s just appreciate all of them and what they’ve done for the league through their time. That is why we play. Game over!

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Thank you for following @steemsports and you can find me @dwin0603.

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