The debate about the greatest player in basketball history has a new twist, with LeBron James saying that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first NBA title in 2016 allowed him to think of himself as the best of all time.
“That one right there made me the greatest player of all time,” James said in Episode 7 of the eight-part ESPN+ series More Than An Athlete.
The Cavaliers fell behind three games to one against the Golden State Warriors in the Finals before rallying to win the next three games, clinching the first title for Cleveland and fulfilling a promise that James made to the city upon his return.
“The first wave of emotion was when everyone saw me crying, like, that was all for 52 years of everything in sports that’s gone on in Cleveland. And then after I stopped, I was like — that one right there made you the greatest player of all time,” James said.
The debate over basketball’s greatest player — James or Michael Jordan — has raged over many years.
Jordan, who played his college ball at UNC, was a 14-time All-Star who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles. Meanwhile, James is also a 14-time All-Star and has won three titles between his time with the Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
Carolina basketball, who obviously became aware of this proclamation by James, was quick to point out Jordan’s case for the greatest of all time.
The GOAT debate is unlikely to go away anytime soon. James, who turned 34-years old yesterday, signed a 4-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason and is likely to be in the league for at least a few more years.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Woods Faces Hard Recovery From Serious Injuries in Car CrashIn a career filled with remarkable comebacks, Tiger Woods faces his toughest recovery of all. Woods was driving through a sweeping, downhill stretch of road through coastal suburbs of Los Angeles when his SUV struck a sign, crossed over a raised median and two oncoming lanes before it toppled down an embankment, coming to a […]
![]()
Michelle Obama, LeBron James Team to Help Boost Early VotingA voter initiative led by Michelle Obama is partnering with a similar group founded by NBA star LeBron James and other prominent Black athletes and entertainers to sponsor events in major U.S. cities starting next week to generate excitement about voting early for the Nov. 3 election. Mrs. Obama’s When We All Vote and James’ More Than A […]

Bubble Kings: Lakers Run Past Heat for 17th NBA ChampionshipThe ultimate anguish. The ultimate joy. This season, for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, had it all. And it ended in the only fashion that they deemed would be acceptable, with them back atop the basketball world. For the first time since Kobe Bryant’s fifth and final title a decade ago, the Lakers […]

Danny Green Claims Second Consecutive NBA Title, Third With Different TeamsMake it back-to-back NBA championships for former UNC standout Danny Green, as his Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat on Sunday night at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando to cap off one of the wildest seasons in the league’s history. LeBron James was named the NBA Finals MVP for the fourth time […]
![]()
Woods' Comeback at Masters Named AP Sports Story of the YearA green jacket. A heart-melting embrace. A stirring return to the top of golf by one of the sport’s all-time greats. In choosing Tiger Woods’ victory at the Masters as The Associated Press sports story of the year, voters went with the uplifting escape of a great comeback over options that were as much about sports […]

Danny Green Breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Record for Most Points in Los Angeles Lakers DebutTuesday night marked the beginning of the NBA’s most highly anticipated regular season in a long time, with the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Los Angeles Clippers in the second game of the evening. Behind 30 points from last year’s NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers managed to defeat a Lakers team led […]

Tiger Woods Makes Masters his 15th and Most Improbable MajorTiger Woods blazing to victory in his Sunday red at the Masters, a scene once so familiar, was never more stunning. It was only two years ago at Augusta National that Woods needed a nerve block just to hobble upstairs to the Champions Dinner, unsure he would ever play another round of golf. He had […]

Los Angeles Lakers Agree to Trade for Reggie BullockIt might not be Anthony Davis, but the Los Angeles Lakers made a move late Tuesday night to help add perimeter shooting by trading for Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Bullock. Bullock, who played at UNC for three years before being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA Draft back […]

Who Wore It Better: Roy Williams or LeBron James?Once again, NBA superstar LeBron James has found himself in competition with a prominent figure from UNC basketball. On Wednesday, James arrived in the Staples Center for the Lakers’ game against the Timberwolves rocking exclusive Air Jordan 1’s inspired by Michael Jordan’s alma mater. 🏀 @KingJames arrives in the Off-White Jordan 1 “Powder Blue” tonight! […]
![]()
UNC Basketball Responds to LeBron James' GOAT ArgumentThe debate about the greatest player in basketball history has a new twist, with LeBron James saying that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first NBA title in 2016 allowed him to think of himself as the best of all time. “That one right there made me the greatest player of all time,” James said in Episode 7 […]
›
LeBron is very good. But so were Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Karim Abdul Jabbar, and many others. But Jordan stands out above them all.
The only reason Cleveland won that year is the NBA suspended Draymond Green for game 6 OF THE FINALS for something that no one had been suspended for previously. I think the NBA wanted James/Cleveland to win that series.
I don’t think LeBron James is even the greatest to play for the Lakers, much less the overall Greatest of All Time. Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal, Will Chamberlain, Karim Abdul Jabbar, and Kobe Bryant make for a tough starting five for LeBron to crack.
Im pretty sure I saw Draymond in game 7… The facts are LeBron spanked those Warriors and sent them home crying. We can make 100 excuses on why Lebron lost to the Warriors but it would be excuses also
Jordan always had plenty of help, LeBron has not had much
You can ask Pippen if Jordan have something to do with hes game. Jordan help to make Pippen the player he was, grant, and other players better. Thats why they win 6 titles. Jordan stay in the bulls and create a championship team. He dont go to the lakers or boston looking foward to win, he just do it because he was the best.