Colbinii wrote:younggunsmn wrote:My 2 cents for the GOAT debate, you have to judge the player by the era they played in just like you have to judge historical figures by the times they lived in. Context matters.
Jordan played in one of the toughest eras, where defenders could get away with almost anything and you had maybe one 3 point specialist on your team instead of a team full of shooters.
Every basket in that era was a tough basket.
You couldn't be built like a linebacker and just truck your way to 20 free throw attempts like today.
Nearly every team had 2 BAMFs waiting for you in the lane like Charles Oakley or Antonio/Dale Davis.
I would like to see how Lebron handled the bad boy pistons of the 80s with as mentally soft as he can be at times.
I don't think there will ever be a player with the will to win quite like Jordan.
I remember staying up late to watch those Portland and Laker finals games and the intensity of those games is something you don't see anymore. Jordan was clearly one a pedestal way above every other player, even guys like Drexler and Magic.
I remember everybody loved the Lakers in those days and Jordan was like the guy who went from villain to babyface in wrestling because he won the entire sporting world over with his incredible play and charisma.
Lebron never was the singular face of an entire sport the way Jordan was for 10 years.
Lebron will have better stats over time, but I also think he's maybe the 2nd most physically gifted player ever behind Wilt Chamberlain.
The one title he deserves credit for is the one he won for Cleveland against a loaded Warrior team, because I think he willed that team to victory. The heat wins and Laker bubble win were not impressive because of the superteam aspect and covid season.
The guys who played in the 60s-70s have a better argument for stats/titles/accolades. Havlicek/Russell and the Celtics, Wilt, Kareem, even Mikan. But they also played with fewer teams and no 3 point line.
Going back to the era argument, it's kind of like arguing what is the best era of music. Each had their charm and each successive one had technological advantages the previous didn't.
Was Zeppelin better because they had to record to tape and 70's era is superior?
Was it much harder for Jordan in the hair metal era than for Lebron in the autotune/boyband era where almost everything is a foul?
My answer is yes. And players are going to keep getting softer and softer because that's what society reflects back at them.
Could you imagine Isaiah Thomas and Jordan having a passive aggressive slap fight over instagram the way some of these soft babies do today? I didn't get my contract extension so I'm going to unfollow my team and highest paid teammate on instagram.
That dude is ten-ply.
This reads like a satire, I really hope it is.
I am guessing you loved "He Gets Us" commercial at the Super Bowl justifying Fascism.
I feel bad for you that you felt the need to post this, it had absolutely nothing to do with basketball
I would report you and put you on ignore if I did that sort of thing (you know, digital fascism), which I have yet to do in 15+ years here.
I didn't watch the super bowl ad, but religious/political advertising in general makes me cringe, whatever side it comes from.
Every one of those "He Gets Us" ads I've seen has pushed compassion and understanding for immigrant and LGBTQ issues.
They are in reality thinly disguised political ads, and not from the side of the aisle you appear to think they are coming from.
But believe what you want to believe.
