RealGM

Let's say he wins the IST but no more championships.

Would be huge. Big as winning a regular season game!

Jordan never won one, so he'd clearly be the GOAT. But if he doesn't win it he's still behind Kareem. One game to decide a legacy!!!

It would be a big deal only for LeBron stans.

good thread, I was rushing to post this in the pinned one, lol.



You can bet that the Nick Wright styled "King" James jocksniffers will be citing this in perpetuity if the Lakers win this thing, at the very least claim it's more relevant than MJ's dunk contest titles, lol

He'll be carried by Reaves but still get all the credit

No.

I like the IST, it's kind of fun, but really, it doesn't mean anything. No one really cares.

Yes but it’s not a major accomplishment. But it does help contextualize how ridiculously good he still is at his age

It won’t mean anything now but in 25 years when the IST is still a thing, and people are doing GOAT debates people will mention that even at 38 LeBron was still this good

I see it as less significant than winning a playoff series which means very little in a legacy context. So somewhere between winning a play in game and an actual 1st rd series.

More significant than winning summer league tournament but less significant than All Star MVP.

It's going to be insufferable

Any award/achievement Lebron can gain before he retires will be used by his cult to proclaim he's better than Jordan, even one as meaningless as this. Lebron knows it himself, if you've noticed how hard he's playing for these in season games. He definitely wants to be on the first team to win it.

GSWFan1994 wrote:It would be a big deal only for LeBron stans.

Right the league is doing their best to keep that relic relevant.

Roger Murdock wrote:Yes but it’s not a major accomplishment. But it does help contextualize how ridiculously good he still is at his age

It won’t mean anything now but in 25 years when the IST is still a thing, and people are doing GOAT debates people will mention that even at 38 LeBron was still this good

In 25 seasons I think we will have an IST for every month of the season

"LeBron James, 3x winner of the December IST, 2x winner of the January IST, 5x winner of the February IST, still looking for his 1st win of the March IST"

It's an achievement without substance. No one cares. It means nothing. No, it won't change anything.

It won’t matter for lebrons legacy, he’s too accomplished and the IST doesn’t have enough history/meaning to matter in discussions about GOATs.

However, the IST most definitely isn’t meaningless. Those saying it is are already wrong. Just look at what it did for Hali and the excitement around him due to the stage the IST provided. Look at how excited and energetic players and fans were on the quarter finals.

Depends. If the ist becomes a big thing in a few years then it's another accolade. As of now, jury is out on the ist.

No, but get ready for lots of posts like this from the people who hate him:

"But at least he won the IST "

A lot especially if he wins multiple. In Europe it's total trophy count that is brought up more than the specific ones when discussing legacies. It'll eventually become this way with the IST.

Right now IST isn't as highly esteemed but it will grow in value over time.

It would definitely add to his legacy if he wins the first ever. Wouldn't add much but it adds.