The NBA GOAT debate has forever been a barbershop staple. The Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate has been a widely discussed topic, with even the late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant listed as a potential GOAT candidate now and then.
Shaquille O’Neal, who played in the MJ era and shared the floor with James and Bryant, shared his take on the GOAT debate on a recent episode of his podcast.
Why Shaquille O’Neal Picks Michael Jordan as His NBA GOAT
Speaking on “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” the four-time NBA champion picked Jordan as the GOAT over James and Bryant. In recent times, the question has been making headlines after James suited up for an unprecedented 23rd season in the league. But O’Neal had his reasons to call MJ the GOAT.
“I hate when they try to compare generations, but they ask me the question all the time, and I’m always giving the same answer,” the former center said. “Mike is the greatest of all time because of how he played, how he dominated, and he never lost in the Finals.”
“So I know a lot of people are going to see this, as you said, and ‘Oh, he’s doing this and he does that.’ I played with Kobe. I know what a killer he was,” he added. “But to me, as a kid and going against him, then being the only guy to beat him in the playoffs, and for him to retire after three and then come back and get three…He was a different animal.”
What sets Jordan on a plane above James is his six championships. The 41-year-old, on the other hand, is 4-6 in his NBA Finals appearances, but the Chicago Bulls icon was undefeated in his six trips to the summit.
The Bulls also won their last championship with Jordan in the mix.
Bryant won all five of his rings with the Lakers and had O’Neal with him as the franchise cornerstone. The duo won three championships together, and the “Black Mamba” later won two more titles in 2009 and 2010. O’Neal ended his decorated career with four championships.
James won his first two championships with the Miami Heat. He later returned to Cleveland to lead the Cavaliers to their only NBA championship in what was one of the greatest series in an NBA Finals. His last championship came with the Lakers in 2020.
While James’ longevity and elite production at an advanced stage of his career see him make a compelling case to be the GOAT, Jordan wins it by virtue of his six rings compared to James’ four. Only time will tell if he can win his fifth with the Lakers this season and tie with Bryant.
