In the last couple of years, the hot-button topic of basketball sports debates shows, radio broadcasts, and YouTube discussions have been whether or not LeBron James is able to catch or surpassed Jordon as the greatest of all-time.
Many different points from well-renowned sports analysts, from Stephen A. Smith to Scottie Pippen, have chimed in with their opinions on whether or not LeBron is the greatest or can catch Jordan. Of the items that have been introduced as arguments, the deciding factor seems to be the number of championships won in as many tries.
The G.O.A.T. Conversation
The idea of using championships to make a case for the G.O.A.T is subjective to the interpretation of the greatest. It’s similar to the MVP discussion, where the acronym does apply to the award as stated. MVP stands for Most Valuable Player award. So many times, the award is given to the best player who is having the best season or most impressionable season on the best team. In most cases, the winner is not necessarily the M.V.P, especially if he plays on a team with other all-stars or superstars. As for the G.O.A.T conversation, whether or not a particular player has more championships, should not be a deciding factor in the determination of who is the better player.
For instance, one argument against LeBron is that he has been a part of super teams. Super teams can be defined as a team constructed via trade or through free agency that has at least 3 stars. In the article above, it says 3 top 5 level stars, but that is subjective to a top 5 level player. Now, let’s apply that to the argument that Jordan has never been a part of super teams and that he accomplished his championship titles without the aid of multiple all-stars.
Examining the Past
Let’s take a look at teams that were comprised of 3 stars and won championships, or had a combination of stars and/or Hall of Famers prior to Jordan’s championship reign.
The Boston Celtics won 11 titles from the 1956-57 to 1968-69 era and perhaps by definition, had assembled the greatest super team to date. These teams consisted of Hall of Famers Frank Ramsey, Ed Macauley, Bill Sharman, ball-handling wizard Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, dominating center Bill Russell (five times the league’s Most Valuable Player), and later Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, and John Havlicek, during their historic run. The 1966-67 Sixers team 3 All-Stars Wilt, Hall Greer, Chet Walker, the 1970 Champions Knicks has 3 Hall of Famers, Dave DeBusschere, Walt Frazier, and Willis Reed, the 72 Lakers Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Wilt Chamberlain, 1981 Celtics 3 All-Stars Bird, Parrish, Nate Archibald, the 82 Lakers feat only 2 All-Stars, Jamaal Wilks and Kareem, but Magic Johnson is a Hall of Famer in only his 3rd season and didn’t make the team. The Celtics of the 80 Had Bird, McHale, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parrish, Danny Ainge, the Lakers had Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Byron Scott, Jamaal Wilks and Michael Cooper, the Pistons in 89-90 had Zeke, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, and Bill Laimbeer.
The Bulls during their 6 titles in 8 years had a combination of Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Grant. The Spurs during their five championships had Sean Elliott, Dad Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard, and the 2007-08 Boston Celtics Championship team consisted of the Big four in Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.
If we take a look at the past NBA champions, the majority of those champions according to the definition, were, in fact, super teams. The notion that the difference between whether or not the players choose to form the team or management forms the team is not relevant. Ultimately, the management still forms the teams because they create the cap space and offer the contracts. Super teams have been the dominant factor in winning championships in the NBA since conception, championship criteria are only part of the factor.
Other elements to consider for the title of the G.O.A.T is skill set, understanding of the game, crunch time or clutch performance, ability to lead others, and all-around game meaning playing at both ends of the court.
Championships Do Not Make the Difference
Using championships as the deciding factor in an argument about individual players is like using a neighborhood to determine which house is more impressive than the other house. It takes teams to win championships, and while many great players have won many championships, many have not. Robert Horry has 7 championships while Jordan has 6. Is he a better player than Jordan or even Pippen? No one would dispute that, but that is what people use a measuring stick between Jordan and LeBron.
This is not to say which player is better or not, but when the argument is made, let’s stick with the characteristics of the players and put things in their proper context. Remember, if Jordan had played on terrible teams, and made it to the Finals, and faced some of the same teams he faced, with multiple Hall of Famers and all-stars, he too would have had a different championship record. This would have happened not as a result of his greatness, but because his team would have lack greatness.
If LeBron had the same level of the excellency of teammates that Jordan had during his run, the outcome of some of those championship losses would have been different as well. Championships are a singular equation, not a deciding equation. Let’s keep that in mind as well.
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