For years, the GOAT debate in the NBA has fueled barbershop arguments, podcast discussions, and social media wars. Michael Jordan and LeBron James have always been the frontrunners, and their unmatched legacies have divided fans across generations.
Some discuss stats, others go by championships, and a few argue cultural impact. But now, former NBA player Lou Williams has thrown a curveball into the mix that has fans stunned—and it’s all gone viral.
Lou Williams’ Viral “Start, Bench, Cut” Game Including the Stars
In a recent episode of “Run It Back TV” on FanDuel TV, Williams played a game of “Start, Bench, Cut” featuring three of the greatest ever to play the game: Jordan, James, and Kobe Bryant. His picks? Start James, bench Bryant, and shockingly, cut Jordan.
Yes, you read that right. The six-time champion, undefeated in the Finals, widely considered the ultimate icon of basketball, was cut by Williams.
“Y’all wanna do this. Y’all wanna see Michael Jordan get cut for the first time since 9th grade? Y’all wanna see this? ” said Williams during the latest episode. “I’m gonna start LeBron James. I’m gonna bench Kobe Bryant, and I’m gonna cut Michael Jordan. And I’m only picking in this order just to see how many people we can p*** off today. That’s it.”
“Y’all wanna see Michael Jordan get cut for the first time since 9th grade?” 😅
Lou Williams is starting LeBron, benching Kobe and CUTTING MJ 🤯@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/KoPb4lqeDg
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 5, 2025
While Williams said he chose to see how people would react, it can be speculated that there’s a deeper reason behind his take.
Williams is no stranger to high-level basketball. Over his 17-year NBA career, he averaged 13.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds. And when it comes to James, Williams has faced the King in 42 games across the regular season and postseason.
Out of those, Williams’ teams only managed to win around 12—proof enough that he knows firsthand the kind of dominance James brings to the court. It’s worth remembering that in 2023, after James dropped 35 points on the Clippers, Williams even went so far as to call it AT. That praise didn’t come lightly.
“The greatest of all time, give him his flowers. I have said it, I am standing on it,” said Williams regarding James in 2023.
As for Bryant, William played alongside the “Black Mamba” during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Across 53 games, he got a close-up view of the Mamba Mentality. He’s seen how Bryant operated—not just as a competitor but as a teammate.
Back in February, showing respect for both the greats, Williams claimed that James would also reach Bryant’s level of popularity after he retires.
“I experienced Kobe’s farewell tour, and it was surreal to travel with him in and out of cities, different fan bases, and to be celebrated the way that he was. I don’t think LeBron’s is going to be anything short of that. I think, at minimum, it’s going to reach that level,” said Williams.
Now, what about Jordan? With James starting and Bryant benched, Williams was left with only one option—cutting MJ. Or maybe, just maybe, Williams was testing the waters to see how far fans would go to defend their hero.
Whether it was a troll move or a carefully considered opinion, Williams’ take has added a new wrinkle to the never-ending GOAT debate.
