“Kareem didn’t become the GOAT after breaking the scoring record, so why would Bron?”

[Ne 1]

This argument is flawed in a bunch of ways. Here’s an example. Think about wherever you have someone like Charles Barkley ranked all time. For the sake of argument, let’s use ESPN’s top 75 list—Charles is ranked 22nd. Let’s say, you add 1 Championship to his resume. Does he jump above Elgin Baylor and Kevin Garnett and enter the top 20? Absolutely. Does he jump above Jerry West and Giannis? There’s a case to be made.

So let’s use the initial logic about LeBron and Kareem, that’s essentially the same as saying “so does that mean that anyone who wins 1 championship is automatically top 20 all time?” Well that’s just stupid, absolutely not. It means that someone with a resume identical to that of Charles Barkley, when you couple that with a championship, that propels them into the top 20.

Similarly, with someone who has a resume as extensive as LeBron, adding the All Time Scoring Leader designation to said resume, will propel him higher than he is currently ranked—wherever you have him. And for some, it means GOAT. It has nothing to do with Kareem. Kareem’s resume, in its entirety, didn’t have him as the GOAT. LeBron’s does.

[Ne 1]

Short version: Kareem wasn’t arguably the greatest player that people had seen BEFORE the scoring record, so attaining it did little for him.

LeBron is arguably the best player anyone has seen. If you disagree, that means you inherently agree because you’re arguing it and I said “arguably”. So getting the scoring record means more.

[TAZORAC]

Social media wasn't around then Kareem played. Jordan came long anyway.

[StrongLurk]

MJ is pretty comfortably the GOAT NBA player. In fact, MJ has a case for GOAT Athlete of all time (with guys like Gretzky, etc.).

With Lebron, you could make a case that Kareem is still ahead of him.

[bison]

Why would it make a difference? We've known for several years now that Lebron breaking scoring record was a lock, and he's already surpassed Jordan in scoring, so when having the GOAT debate, we've already factored in the fact Lebron would be the all time scoring leader or at the very least ahead of MJ. Nothing will change when Lebron passes KAJ at some point this season in terms of all time rankings. And because Lebron isn't in the business of winning rings anymore, it doesn't really seem like there's anything left he can do to catch Jordan

[3ba11]

Why would it make a difference? We've known for several years now that Lebron breaking scoring record was a lock, and he's already surpassed Jordan in scoring, so when having the GOAT debate, we've already factored in the fact Lebron would be the all time scoring leader or at the very least ahead of MJ. Nothing will change when Lebron passes KAJ at some point this season in terms of all time rankings. And because Lebron isn't in the business of winning rings anymore, it doesn't really seem like there's anything left he can do to catch Jordan


Indeed, so you're saying the GOAT debate is like the stock market - i.e. obvious things and publicly-available information are already baked into the listed stock prices

[ImKobe]

Stat-padding and underachieving in the RS does not boost your ATG status. Stop it lmao. All the scoring record shows is that he has GOAT longevity as far as maintaining his level of play to rack up these stats, but his Playoff resume is not GOAT-worthy.

[1987_Lakers]

Stat-padding and underachieving in the RS does not boost your ATG status. Stop it lmao. All the scoring record shows is that he has GOAT longevity as far as maintaining his level of play to rack up these stats, but his Playoff resume is not GOAT-worthy.

Here are Kobe's finals stats

2000 - 15.6 ppg | 39 fg%

2001 - 24 ppg | 41.5 fg% | 50 TS%

2002 - 27 ppg | 51 fg% | 62 TS%

2004 - 23 ppg | 38 fg% | 46 TS%

2008 - 26 ppg | 40.1 fg% | 50.5 TS%

2009 - 32 ppg | 43 fg% | 52.5 TS%

2010 - 29 ppg | 40.1 fg% | 52.8 TS%



Here are Kobe's game seven stats.

44.2 MPG

22.2 points

FG 38.9%

FT 67.3%

8 RPG

5 APG

1 SPG

1.3 BPG





Here are Kobe's stats when facing elimination.



22.3 PPG

5.8 RPG


3.5 APG

1.3 SPG

1.3 BPG

on a 50.3 TS

and his teams went 9-10 in those games.

[RogueBorg]

There's only one player in the top 10 with a losing Finals record.

In fact, that player would have to start a three-peat this year just to get his record out of the negative.

[Axe]

There's only one player in the top 10 with a losing Finals record.

In fact, that player would have to start a three-peat this year just to get his record out of the negative.
Yet there's also only one of those top ten players with over three finals mvps outside of jordan. See how dumb you sound little man?

[Spurs m8]

This guy is fuming that his livelihood will never be close to GOAT

[Lakers Legend#32]

Bron is the GOAT.

He's just going to be the scoring champ along the way.

[RRR3]

MJ is pretty comfortably the GOAT NBA player. In fact, MJ has a case for GOAT Athlete of all time (with guys like Gretzky, etc.).

With Lebron, you could make a case that Kareem is still ahead of him.
MJ has zero case for GOAT athlete lol. Jim Thorpe, Michael Phelps, Babe Ruth, Gretzky, and Don Bradman are all easily over him.

[NBAGOAT]

kareem deserves more GOAT consideration. Too many people think he's just some guy who played long but his peak is also top 5.

[Full Court]

This argument is flawed in a bunch of ways. Here’s an example. Think about wherever you have someone like Charles Barkley ranked all time. For the sake of argument, let’s use ESPN’s top 75 list—Charles is ranked 22nd. Let’s say, you add 1 Championship to his resume. Does he jump above Elgin Baylor and Kevin Garnett and enter the top 20? Absolutely. Does he jump above Jerry West and Giannis? There’s a case to be made.

So let’s use the initial logic about LeBron and Kareem, that’s essentially the same as saying “so does that mean that anyone who wins 1 championship is automatically top 20 all time?” Well that’s just stupid, absolutely not. It means that someone with a resume identical to that of Charles Barkley, when you couple that with a championship, that propels them into the top 20.

Similarly, with someone who has a resume as extensive as LeBron, adding the All Time Scoring Leader designation to said resume, will propel him higher than he is currently ranked—wherever you have him. And for some, it means GOAT. It has nothing to do with Kareem. Kareem’s resume, in its entirety, didn’t have him as the GOAT. LeBron’s does.

You can have whoever you want be your GOAT, but if you think that the overwhelming majority of people who have MJ as GOAT are just going to change because Bronie gets a longevity record, you're delusional.

[SATAN]

Stat-padding and underachieving in the RS does not boost your ATG status. Stop it lmao. All the scoring record shows is that he has GOAT longevity as far as maintaining his level of play to rack up these stats, but his Playoff resume is not GOAT-worthy.

You are mentally ill.

[Ryoka Narusawa]

Not to mention the NBA was still in its infancy when Kareem set the record way back when but now after 40 years later the record has still stood the test of time until about 1,250 more points to go. This score total record is now beyond being a 30 year old record it will be at least 70 years of testing.

[TheGoatest]

This thread = pre-emptive meltdown

[Bawkish]

This thread = pre-emptive meltdown

i agree

[TheGoatest]

Bill Russell wasn't consensus GOAT with 11 rings, so why should someone with nearly half as many rings be? :confusedshrug:

[Full Court]

Bill Russell wasn't consensus GOAT with 11 rings, so why should someone with nearly half as many rings be? :confusedshrug:

Only low-IQ Bronies rank on a single criterion. Their teensy brains can't handle anything more complex than that.

[Axe]

Lol everyone can be goat as long as it's not someone named 'lebron'. Because abnormal forum nazis come alive intentionally hating on him so they can bring the best out of their homosexuality. :confusedshrug:

[Baller789]

Only low-IQ Bronies rank on a single criterion. Their teensy brains can't handle anything more complex than that.

Yep. Pretty much.

[TheMan]

Only low-IQ Bronies rank on a single criterion. Their teensy brains can't handle anything more complex than that.

Exactly