“I’d be a beast”: LeBron James says he could be GOAT in football and one more sport if not for basketball
LeBron James has been gaining solid ground every year in the GOAT debate and might get ahead of Michael Jordan in the future. And James said that if not for basketball he could have been in GOAT conversations in different sports as well.
In a Q&A with “Uninterrupted,” the four-time NBA champion said that he could have been among the greatest in lacrosse. It is the oldest organized sport in North America and requires high athleticism and speed from players. James said that he had all the physical and mental qualities to be the best in lacrosse.
“If I wasn’t the GOAT in basketball … I would be GOAT in … lacrosse, and I would be a beast out on the field. It’s fast, it’s physical. I got pretty good, like, accuracy when it comes to things.”
Given his physical attributes, LeBron has a good resume to back him up. He is playing better than 95% of the active NBA players, even at 38 years of age. As he nears retirement, LeBron is putting up unbelievable numbers.
Last season, he averaged 28.9 points per game and shot 50.0%. He turns 39 in December, and it will be interesting to see if the King can keep up his unprecedented performance.
Stephen A. Smith blasts Giannis for calling LeBron James No. 1 over Michael Jordan
Recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo said that he would choose LeBron James over Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate. Speaking to The Athletic's Joe Vardon, Giannis said, “Some guys might say he is No. 2, but other guys like me, I say he is No. 1, and he's still going." While Jordan may still dominate the conversation, LeBron has been closing the gap in recent conversations.
ESPN "First Take" co-host Stephen A. Smith lashed out at Giannis for ranking LeBron James ahead of Jordan. Given what Smith has said about the debate, what he said about Giannis’ take was natural. Smith pointed out that Jordan was the reason the Greek Freak even got to know basketball in Greece.
While it is true that MJ was the reason that basketball, especially the NBA, got global recognition, it does not prove him to be the GOAT. Moreover, even many basketball legends have considered LeBron to be the GOAT over Jordan. The long list includes legends like Isiah Thomas, Jason Kidd, Gilbert Arenas, Bill Laimbeer and Jason Williams.
Smith is, of course, entitled to his opinion, and there is no right or wrong answer to the question. However, choosing LeBron over Jordan should not be “blasphemous” as Smith called it. LeBron has done more than enough to tilt the vote toward himself.