Isiah Thomas chooses LeBron James as the greatest ever over Michael Jordan: “LeBron James is 1, 2, 3 in every single category”
LeBron James has continued to move closer and closer to breaking more NBA records. Currently in the midst of his 20th season, James is edging towards breaking the all-time regular season scoring record. Currently, James needs to average just over 16 points in all 82 games this season to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Given that, many feel as though James is marching closer to being the greatest player of all time. It's a title that has garnered controversy, with many feeling as though it should belong to Michael Jordan. The debate has continued to rage on in recent years with no end in sight.
Some feel as though Jordan's accomplishments in a shorter time span make him worthy of the GOAT title. Others feel as though LeBron James' longevity gives him the edge given how long he has played at an elite level. The way Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas sees things, James is the clear-cut greatest of all time.
"LeBron James, to me, is the best who has ever played," Thomas said. "And not only does the eye test verifies it, but then now you look at his body of work in terms of data and statistics to support it. I mean, we've never had another player dominate other than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for two decades. ... LeBron James has had a 20-year career that only matches Kareem's."
He continued, pointing to LeBron James' accomplishments in the playoffs and the records he holds as one of the leading indicators of his greatness.
"This year, he'll probably pass Kareem as the No. 1 scorer of all time. He's top 10 in assists. This year, he'll probably pass Magic Johnson in terms of assists. He'll probably, when you look at rebounds and everything else and then you look at playoff points, LeBron James is one, two, three in every single category."
The comments came during a recent interview with 90PlusKora, leaving fans with plenty to debate.
Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan: a brief history
It's no secret that there's no love lost between Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas. Throughout the early portion of Jordan's career, he and the Bulls were repeatedly beaten down and eliminated by Thomas and the Pistons. With the Bad Boy Pistons' dominance in the East, Jordan was forced to take his game to the next level.
After several years of struggling, Jordan and the Bulls got past the Pistons and began their reign of dominance. The feud between Jordan and Thomas spilled over to Team USA Basketball, with Thomas notoriously being snubbed from the Dream Team in 1992.
The entire situation was highlighted during "The Last Dance" documentary. As a result, many have wondered whether Thomas has some bias towards James in the GOAT debate.
What do you think? Do you think Michael Jordan is the GOAT or does that title belong to LeBron James? Vote in our poll down below.