RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2)

Moderators: cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285, Domejandro, ken6199, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid

Who Is officially the goat!? Only have 10 slots Poll.

Larry Bird
6
1%
Shaquille O'Neal
2
0%
Wilt Chamberlain
17
3%
Michael Jordan
297
60%
Lebron James
118
24%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
17
3%
Oscar Robertson
1
0%
Hakeem Olajuwon
4
1%
Bill Russell
11
2%
Other Insert Comment
22
4%
 
Total votes: 495

Iwasawitness
Head Coach
Posts: 6,024
And1: 7,165
Joined: Sep 05, 2023
     

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1941 » by Iwasawitness » Mon Jun 9, 2025 4:28 pm

Luke wrote:
The Big O wrote:Shaq's list is the ammunition Kobe fans use in these debates lol.


There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


:lol: :lol: :lol:
ImmortalD24 wrote:Swap 2008 Mo Williams with Garland this post season and Cavs would be up right now on the verge of sweeping the Pacers.
bledredwine
RealGM
Posts: 14,529
And1: 5,704
Joined: Sep 17, 2010
   

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1942 » by bledredwine » Mon Jun 9, 2025 4:42 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
Luke wrote:
The Big O wrote:Shaq's list is the ammunition Kobe fans use in these debates lol.


There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


:lol: :lol: :lol:




:lol:
LeBron has a 17.8% field goal percentage and a 12.5% 3-point percentage in clutch situations, and also made 20 of 116 game winning/tying shots in 4th/OT during his career :wink:
The Big O
Sophomore
Posts: 161
And1: 147
Joined: Jun 03, 2023

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1943 » by The Big O » Mon Jun 9, 2025 5:50 pm

Luke wrote:
The Big O wrote:Shaq's list is the ammunition Kobe fans use in these debates lol.


There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


What arguments?

Kobe is literally the only player who gets shoved into these GOAT debates and who's case automatically falls apart once you do any sort of actual analysis.
Iwasawitness
Head Coach
Posts: 6,024
And1: 7,165
Joined: Sep 05, 2023
     

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1944 » by Iwasawitness » Mon Jun 9, 2025 7:52 pm

bledredwine wrote:
Iwasawitness wrote:
Luke wrote:
There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


:lol: :lol: :lol:




:lol:


Oh no, LeBron when he was first starting out in the league said Kobe was the best player in the league. This completely throws away everything that happened after the fact.

You just don't do any thinking at all when you post these, do you?
ImmortalD24 wrote:Swap 2008 Mo Williams with Garland this post season and Cavs would be up right now on the verge of sweeping the Pacers.
Rust_Cohle
Veteran
Posts: 2,819
And1: 3,019
Joined: Mar 03, 2014
   

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1945 » by Rust_Cohle » Thu Jun 12, 2025 4:19 pm

Luke wrote:
The Big O wrote:Shaq's list is the ammunition Kobe fans use in these debates lol.


There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


I would love to hear these because I’m really struggling to think of any. Even for the rings argument he was a robin for the first 3.
playa-hater
RealGM
Posts: 22,115
And1: 23,727
Joined: Aug 29, 2020
 

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1946 » by playa-hater » Sun Jun 15, 2025 7:48 pm

Some voters are more qualified than others. With that said Rick Pitino, a GOAT level Coach who actually coached against many players offers this opinion.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/rick-pitino-names-most-underrated-235504908.html

"So many times I'm asked who’s the GOAT," Pitino said. "I try and stay away from that, but I will say if it's one game or one series, who’s the one player I don't want to plan against, then the answer becomes easy -MJ! Also many will be surprised at this, but the most underrated star of all time is Larry Bird. Rebounds, passes, and scores inside and outside and so damn smart. Top 4 of all time."

Bird had a great career but Obviously not the Greatest career. But you can literally put his Prime against anyone, and he would be so hard to bet against. The fact that so many people on here even Put Magic = to Bird is so bad. But when I see Magic > Bird it makes me think so many super casuals vote on here. The 2 players other teams and players feared the most are Jordan and Bird. And in Crunch time or Big games Magic is not even top 10.

From HOF Coach, GM and player - Pat Riley's famous Quote. Pat Riley, when comparing Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, famously stated: "If I had to choose a player to take a shot to save a game, I'd choose Jordan. If I had to choose someone to take a shot to save my life, I'll take Larry Bird."

What fool is taking Magic??
There is no prize for coming so close Do something!
User avatar
Jamaaliver
Forum Mod - Hawks
Forum Mod - Hawks
Posts: 44,853
And1: 17,034
Joined: Sep 22, 2005
Location: Officially a citizen of the World...
Contact:
     

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1947 » by Jamaaliver » Mon Jun 16, 2025 5:06 pm

Read on Twitter
bledredwine
RealGM
Posts: 14,529
And1: 5,704
Joined: Sep 17, 2010
   

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1948 » by bledredwine » Mon Jun 16, 2025 6:37 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
Luke wrote:
The Big O wrote:Shaq's list is the ammunition Kobe fans use in these debates lol.


There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


:lol: :lol: :lol:


Yeah, Lebron admitted it in two interviews and it was common knowledge/debate until 2011 when Lebron choked anyway. Joke is on you, fan.
LeBron has a 17.8% field goal percentage and a 12.5% 3-point percentage in clutch situations, and also made 20 of 116 game winning/tying shots in 4th/OT during his career :wink:
Iwasawitness
Head Coach
Posts: 6,024
And1: 7,165
Joined: Sep 05, 2023
     

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1949 » by Iwasawitness » Mon Jun 16, 2025 8:52 pm

bledredwine wrote:
Iwasawitness wrote:
Luke wrote:
There are plenty of arguments for Kobe over Lebron. He was a better player, but the mass media needed to prop up Lebron as the face of the NBA and brainwashed the ( mostly young) casual fans into believing that Lebron had surpassed him, which has never been true.


:lol: :lol: :lol:


Yeah, Lebron admitted it in two interviews and it was common knowledge/debate until 2011 when Lebron choked anyway. Joke is on you, fan.


And what joke is on me? You said yourself until 2011. Hell by next year there wasn't an argument for Kobe being better, and at this point there's no argument for Kobe over LeBron overall.

Unless the joke here is that I'm being trolled. Would explain the quality of your posts.
ImmortalD24 wrote:Swap 2008 Mo Williams with Garland this post season and Cavs would be up right now on the verge of sweeping the Pacers.
User avatar
DOT
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 30,687
And1: 58,965
Joined: Nov 25, 2016
         

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1950 » by DOT » Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:23 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
Read on Twitter

LeBron did it 2009-2013

This is why you shouldn't get your info from memes, unless you're just trolling, which you are, so no point in pointing out that you are, once again, factually incorrect.
BaF Lakers:

Nikola Topic/Kasparas Jakucionis
VJ Edgecombe/Jrue Holiday
Shaedon Sharpe/Cedric Coward
Kyle Filipowski/Collin Murray-Boyles
Alex Sarr/Clint Capela

Bench: Malcolm Brogdon/Hansen Yang/Rocco Zikarsky/RJ Luis Jr.
User avatar
DOT
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 30,687
And1: 58,965
Joined: Nov 25, 2016
         

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1951 » by DOT » Tue Jun 17, 2025 2:29 pm

Iwasawitness wrote:
bledredwine wrote:
Iwasawitness wrote:
:lol: :lol: :lol:


Yeah, Lebron admitted it in two interviews and it was common knowledge/debate until 2011 when Lebron choked anyway. Joke is on you, fan.


And what joke is on me? You said yourself until 2011. Hell by next year there wasn't an argument for Kobe being better, and at this point there's no argument for Kobe over LeBron overall.

Unless the joke here is that I'm being trolled. Would explain the quality of your posts.

The people who put Kobe over LeBron are just MJ stans who know there's no argument for Kobe over MJ, which means they can feel secure if people see him as the #2.
BaF Lakers:

Nikola Topic/Kasparas Jakucionis
VJ Edgecombe/Jrue Holiday
Shaedon Sharpe/Cedric Coward
Kyle Filipowski/Collin Murray-Boyles
Alex Sarr/Clint Capela

Bench: Malcolm Brogdon/Hansen Yang/Rocco Zikarsky/RJ Luis Jr.
lessthanjake
Analyst
Posts: 3,037
And1: 2,751
Joined: Apr 13, 2013

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1952 » by lessthanjake » Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:32 pm

DOT wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:
Read on Twitter

LeBron did it 2009-2013

This is why you shouldn't get your info from memes, unless you're just trolling, which you are, so no point in pointing out that you are, once again, factually incorrect.


To be fair, the statement could’ve just been 6 years in a row instead of 5 years in a row, and it would’ve been right. Those two guys did achieve something in this regard that LeBron did not. The tweet just erroneously stated a lower bar that LeBron had achieved too. Not that this particular achievement is all that important anyways.
OhayoKD wrote:Lebron contributes more to all the phases of play than Messi does. And he is of course a defensive anchor unlike messi.
The Big O
Sophomore
Posts: 161
And1: 147
Joined: Jun 03, 2023

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1953 » by The Big O » Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:06 pm

Crazy how massively overrated Kobe is in the social media crowd lol.
Spates
Starter
Posts: 2,036
And1: 1,528
Joined: Oct 29, 2011
Location: everywhere you go

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1954 » by Spates » Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:24 am

LeBron has been chasing glory since Day 1. He's been a relentless ring chaser, at least through his prime, changing teams to get an advantage whenever the taps run dry. This GOAT narrative with him is the same. Can't make his case with rings, so he's pivoting to accumulated stats.

I love LBJ, watching him in the 2015 finals was basketball nirvana. I was beginning to see his case as the greatest. Now I'm irritated by petulance. The campaign is weak, it rinses his aura. Bro's begging.

People crown the goat without being lobbied. MJ, of course, was marketed heavily, but he was undefeated at the pinnacle of the sport x6. His resume speaks for itself.
User avatar
DOT
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 30,687
And1: 58,965
Joined: Nov 25, 2016
         

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1955 » by DOT » Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:52 pm

Spates wrote:People crown the goat without being lobbied. MJ, of course, was marketed heavily, but

I believe this is what they call a double standard.
BaF Lakers:

Nikola Topic/Kasparas Jakucionis
VJ Edgecombe/Jrue Holiday
Shaedon Sharpe/Cedric Coward
Kyle Filipowski/Collin Murray-Boyles
Alex Sarr/Clint Capela

Bench: Malcolm Brogdon/Hansen Yang/Rocco Zikarsky/RJ Luis Jr.
The4thHorseman
General Manager
Posts: 8,666
And1: 5,345
Joined: Jun 18, 2011

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1956 » by The4thHorseman » Wed Jun 18, 2025 5:38 pm

Spates wrote:LeBron has been chasing glory since Day 1. He's been a relentless ring chaser, at least through his prime, changing teams to get an advantage whenever the taps run dry. This GOAT narrative with him is the same. Can't make his case with rings, so he's pivoting to accumulated stats.

I love LBJ, watching him in the 2015 finals was basketball nirvana. I was beginning to see his case as the greatest. Now I'm irritated by petulance. The campaign is weak, it rinses his aura. Bro's begging.

People crown the goat without being lobbied. MJ, of course, was marketed heavily, but he was undefeated at the pinnacle of the sport x6. His resume speaks for itself.

If it's about rings to you then it's safe to say Russell is your goat?
Jailblazers7
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,302
And1: 6,016
Joined: Oct 23, 2017
     

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1957 » by Jailblazers7 » Wed Jun 18, 2025 5:54 pm

I think all this stuff is so era specific. Jordan was the perfect player for his era where isolation was the predominant way to score. Lebron was the perfect player for his era as a walking mismatch with top tier passing to take advantage of the 3pt shooting revolution.

Both are their GOATs of their era and whether you favor one or the other is personal preference imo.
Rust_Cohle
Veteran
Posts: 2,819
And1: 3,019
Joined: Mar 03, 2014
   

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1958 » by Rust_Cohle » Wed Jun 18, 2025 6:31 pm

The4thHorseman wrote:
Spates wrote:LeBron has been chasing glory since Day 1. He's been a relentless ring chaser, at least through his prime, changing teams to get an advantage whenever the taps run dry. This GOAT narrative with him is the same. Can't make his case with rings, so he's pivoting to accumulated stats.

I love LBJ, watching him in the 2015 finals was basketball nirvana. I was beginning to see his case as the greatest. Now I'm irritated by petulance. The campaign is weak, it rinses his aura. Bro's begging.

People crown the goat without being lobbied. MJ, of course, was marketed heavily, but he was undefeated at the pinnacle of the sport x6. His resume speaks for itself.

If it's about rings to you then it's safe to say Russell is your goat?


No 3 point line, far less difference between lebron and Mj era than Russell era. Playoffs only 2 rounds as well back then if you were a top seed.
The4thHorseman
General Manager
Posts: 8,666
And1: 5,345
Joined: Jun 18, 2011

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1959 » by The4thHorseman » Wed Jun 18, 2025 7:13 pm

Rust_Cohle wrote:
The4thHorseman wrote:
Spates wrote:LeBron has been chasing glory since Day 1. He's been a relentless ring chaser, at least through his prime, changing teams to get an advantage whenever the taps run dry. This GOAT narrative with him is the same. Can't make his case with rings, so he's pivoting to accumulated stats.

I love LBJ, watching him in the 2015 finals was basketball nirvana. I was beginning to see his case as the greatest. Now I'm irritated by petulance. The campaign is weak, it rinses his aura. Bro's begging.

People crown the goat without being lobbied. MJ, of course, was marketed heavily, but he was undefeated at the pinnacle of the sport x6. His resume speaks for itself.

If it's about rings to you then it's safe to say Russell is your goat?


No 3 point line, far less difference between lebron and Mj era than Russell era. Playoffs only 2 rounds as well back then if you were a top seed.

Not sure why you quoted me, I wasn't the one who originally brought up rings.

But while you're at it, that would mean Kareem's first ring in 1971 doesn't count since there was no 3pt line and only 2 rounds played before the finals right? It wasn't until 1984 that conference champions had to play in the first round so where do the stipulations stop when comparing players?
ScrantonBulls
Starter
Posts: 2,268
And1: 3,187
Joined: Nov 18, 2023
     

Re: RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2) 

Post#1960 » by ScrantonBulls » Wed Jun 18, 2025 7:16 pm

Rust_Cohle wrote:
The4thHorseman wrote:
Spates wrote:LeBron has been chasing glory since Day 1. He's been a relentless ring chaser, at least through his prime, changing teams to get an advantage whenever the taps run dry. This GOAT narrative with him is the same. Can't make his case with rings, so he's pivoting to accumulated stats.

I love LBJ, watching him in the 2015 finals was basketball nirvana. I was beginning to see his case as the greatest. Now I'm irritated by petulance. The campaign is weak, it rinses his aura. Bro's begging.

People crown the goat without being lobbied. MJ, of course, was marketed heavily, but he was undefeated at the pinnacle of the sport x6. His resume speaks for itself.

If it's about rings to you then it's safe to say Russell is your goat?


No 3 point line, far less difference between lebron and Mj era than Russell era. Playoffs only 2 rounds as well back then if you were a top seed.

Expansion era (diluted league), barely any international players, zone defense was illegal. The league changed massively between MJ and LeBron's eras.
bledredwine wrote:There were 3 times Jordan won and was considered the underdog

1989 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, the 1991 NBA Finals against the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers, and the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals against the NY Knicks

Return to The General Board