These statements should settle, permanently, any debate about the GOAT.

[BigBlueFanGA]

Larry Bird: "I would never call him the best player I've ever seen if I wasn't serious."

Magic Johnson: "There's Michael Jordan, and then the rest of us."

Allen Iverson: "Mike is the GOAT, Mike will always be the GOAT."

Shaquille O'Neal: "The Last Dance only solidified the argument about who is the greatest player of all time"

Kevin Durant: "MJ is one of one, God level, incomparable, a pure master in this shit. I'm still watching his games to learn"

Charles Barkley: "He didn't just want to beat his opponents, he wanted to break them. Like I said, no disrespect to Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, the best thing I've ever seen is Michael Jordan and it was an honor and a privilege to play against him. He is the best player I have ever seen."

Dwyane Wade: "MJ was chosen to be the GOAT."

Jerry West: "He is the best basketball player, the best athlete I have ever seen in my life."

Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?

Dirk Nowitzki: "The Last Dance was excellent. I was a huge Bulls fan in the '90s. So many things I never knew or had forgotten! MJ is the GOAT."

Patrick Ewing: "LeBron is incredible, but he is not Michael Jordan"

Vince Carter: "I still have to give it to Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant second."

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon: "When people start comparing LeBron to Jordan, it's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a much more superior player in a tougher league. He was was very creative. That doesn't take anything away from LeBron because He's a great player, but it's not a fair comparison, Jordan is just so superior."

Stephon Marbury: "You really want to rank Jordan? Jordan shouldn't even be in a ranking. I don't know why they keep mentioning MJ's name in the same conversation. LeBron is great, but Jordan is not from this earth. He's just different.

Carmelo Anthony: "MJ is the GOAT. He is the best player of all time, and we all agree with that"

 

[shaudyshaud]

Well the statements won’t settle anything . If you had someone other than MJ as your goat these statements aren’t going to all of a sudden make you change your mind .

 

[bbncal02]

When your peers and colleagues say you’re the best of them, that’s high praise.

MJ is the best to ever play the sport all around.
Period. It’s not been truly debatable.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

Nope!

 

[jmw23712]

The only people who debate it are the ones too young to have watched him and the ones who like to start an argument for the sake of stirring crap up. (This board has plenty of those)

 

[blue woman]

WILT

rr

 

[ruppcat]

Larry Bird: "I would never call him the best player I've ever seen if I wasn't serious."

Magic Johnson: "There's Michael Jordan, and then the rest of us."

Allen Iverson: "Mike is the GOAT, Mike will always be the GOAT."

Shaquille O'Neal: "The Last Dance only solidified the argument about who is the greatest player of all time"

Kevin Durant: "MJ is one of one, God level, incomparable, a pure master in this shit. I'm still watching his games to learn"

Charles Barkley: "He didn't just want to beat his opponents, he wanted to break them. Like I said, no disrespect to Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, the best thing I've ever seen is Michael Jordan and it was an honor and a privilege to play against him. He is the best player I have ever seen."

Dwyane Wade: "MJ was chosen to be the GOAT."

Jerry West: "He is the best basketball player, the best athlete I have ever seen in my life."

Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?

Dirk Nowitzki: "The Last Dance was excellent. I was a huge Bulls fan in the '90s. So many things I never knew or had forgotten! MJ is the GOAT."

Patrick Ewing: "LeBron is incredible, but he is not Michael Jordan"

Vince Carter: "I still have to give it to Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant second."

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon: "When people start comparing LeBron to Jordan, it's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a much more superior player in a tougher league. He was was very creative. That doesn't take anything away from LeBron because He's a great player, but it's not a fair comparison, Jordan is just so superior."

Stephon Marbury: "You really want to rank Jordan? Jordan shouldn't even be in a ranking. I don't know why they keep mentioning MJ's name in the same conversation. LeBron is great, but Jordan is not from this earth. He's just different.

Carmelo Anthony: "MJ is the GOAT. He is the best player of all time, and we all agree with that"

Bill Russell says I'll see your six rings and raise you five to 11.

 

[ruppcat]

Larry Bird: "I would never call him the best player I've ever seen if I wasn't serious."

Magic Johnson: "There's Michael Jordan, and then the rest of us."

Allen Iverson: "Mike is the GOAT, Mike will always be the GOAT."

Shaquille O'Neal: "The Last Dance only solidified the argument about who is the greatest player of all time"

Kevin Durant: "MJ is one of one, God level, incomparable, a pure master in this shit. I'm still watching his games to learn"

Charles Barkley: "He didn't just want to beat his opponents, he wanted to break them. Like I said, no disrespect to Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, the best thing I've ever seen is Michael Jordan and it was an honor and a privilege to play against him. He is the best player I have ever seen."

Dwyane Wade: "MJ was chosen to be the GOAT."

Jerry West: "He is the best basketball player, the best athlete I have ever seen in my life."

Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?

Dirk Nowitzki: "The Last Dance was excellent. I was a huge Bulls fan in the '90s. So many things I never knew or had forgotten! MJ is the GOAT."

Patrick Ewing: "LeBron is incredible, but he is not Michael Jordan"

Vince Carter: "I still have to give it to Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant second."

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon: "When people start comparing LeBron to Jordan, it's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a much more superior player in a tougher league. He was was very creative. That doesn't take anything away from LeBron because He's a great player, but it's not a fair comparison, Jordan is just so superior."

Stephon Marbury: "You really want to rank Jordan? Jordan shouldn't even be in a ranking. I don't know why they keep mentioning MJ's name in the same conversation. LeBron is great, but Jordan is not from this earth. He's just different.

Carmelo Anthony: "MJ is the GOAT. He is the best player of all time, and we all agree with that"

"Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?"

Betcha Bird and Magic showed up fit and ready to play.

 

[SaltyCat22]

I actually like Bird as the GOAT. Second is Luka, third Pistol Pete, fourth Dan Issel and fifth Dirk.

 

[bbncal02]

Well the statements won’t settle anything . If you had someone other than MJ as your goat these statements aren’t going to all of a sudden make you change your mind .

lit should make you think though.

Those are some of the greatest players to ever play and they’re saying MJ is the best of them.

Disagreeing with them is one’s right of course but it makes one look awfully misinformed.

 

[drew_ukfan]

I’ll take Kobe

 

[JHannibalSmith]

Larry Bird: "I would never call him the best player I've ever seen if I wasn't serious."

Magic Johnson: "There's Michael Jordan, and then the rest of us."

Allen Iverson: "Mike is the GOAT, Mike will always be the GOAT."

Shaquille O'Neal: "The Last Dance only solidified the argument about who is the greatest player of all time"

Kevin Durant: "MJ is one of one, God level, incomparable, a pure master in this shit. I'm still watching his games to learn"

Charles Barkley: "He didn't just want to beat his opponents, he wanted to break them. Like I said, no disrespect to Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, the best thing I've ever seen is Michael Jordan and it was an honor and a privilege to play against him. He is the best player I have ever seen."

Dwyane Wade: "MJ was chosen to be the GOAT."

Jerry West: "He is the best basketball player, the best athlete I have ever seen in my life."

Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?

Dirk Nowitzki: "The Last Dance was excellent. I was a huge Bulls fan in the '90s. So many things I never knew or had forgotten! MJ is the GOAT."

Patrick Ewing: "LeBron is incredible, but he is not Michael Jordan"

Vince Carter: "I still have to give it to Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant second."

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon: "When people start comparing LeBron to Jordan, it's not a fair comparison. Jordan was a much more superior player in a tougher league. He was was very creative. That doesn't take anything away from LeBron because He's a great player, but it's not a fair comparison, Jordan is just so superior."

Stephon Marbury: "You really want to rank Jordan? Jordan shouldn't even be in a ranking. I don't know why they keep mentioning MJ's name in the same conversation. LeBron is great, but Jordan is not from this earth. He's just different.

Carmelo Anthony: "MJ is the GOAT. He is the best player of all time, and we all agree with that"

I really don’t understand why this is even a debate. IMO, it’s MJ, &, it’s not that close. And, I’ve never been a Jordan fan. I’m a lifelong Hawks fan (lol, I know), &, despised MJ bc we couldn’t beat him. And, one of my good friends was a HUGE MJ fan, &, I hated hearing him run his mouth, so, I always rooted against him & the Bulls.

But, what really sickens me is how LBJ doesn’t hesitate to call himself the GOAT, &, will tell anyone who will listen. But, when MJ was/is asked who the best is, he usually says something like, there were so many great players in every generation, &, it’s just an honor to be mentioned in that discussion. If you truly are the best, you might know it, but, you don’t have to scream it to the world. Your body of work does the talking for you. I’d put LBJ in the top 5-10, but, he’s not even #2 in my mind. At least, not in terms of all-time ranking, anyway. 💩

 

[Ed323232]

I actually like Bird as the GOAT. Second is Luka, third Pistol Pete, fourth Dan Issel and fifth Dirk.

I see a pattern

 

[UKhoopCat]

Doctor J is the greatest I’ve watched and that hasn’t changed through the years.

 

[Zissou87]

Bill Russell says I'll see your six rings and raise you five to 11.

R.I.P.

 

[BigCat241]

lit should make you think though.

Those are some of the greatest players to ever play and they’re saying MJ is the best of them.

Disagreeing with them is one’s right of course but it makes one look awfully misinformed.

Those quotes don’t mean as much as you are trying to convey when there are just as many from great players in the past that put Lebron as the GOAT.

 

[bbncal02]

Those quotes don’t mean as much as you are trying to convey when there are just as many from great players in the past that put Lebron as the GOAT.

Point being I’m taking the word over players that have done it over Bubba from his lawn chair.

 

[Ed323232]

Bill Russell says I'll see your six rings and raise you five to 11.

That’s a strong argument

 

[JC CATS]

WILT

rr

Wilt Kneeled. You can beat your wife, you can murder someone, but there are 2 things you can't do, fight dogs and take a stand for social justice. Those will not be tolerated

 

[BigCat241]

Point being I’m taking the word over players that have done it over Bubba from his lawn chair.

Yeah, but there are also probably about equal players who have done it that prefer Lebron over MJ.

 

[SuporChin]

The GOAT is between Kareem, MJ, and LeBron. Each were the best player of their era, collecting individual awards and titles. An argument could be made for any of those three, and wouldn't be wrong. People forget about Kareem too much in this discussion.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Lifelong Pistons fan here so I despised Jordan at one time.

Watched both of their careers in full.

Jordan is #1

Lebron and Kobe are tied for 2nd.

 

[electricat2]

Bill Russell says I'll see your six rings and raise you five to 11.

bill russell had basically an all star team around him at Boston.

 

[Bungalow Bill]

"Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?"

Betcha Bird and Magic showed up fit and ready to play.

Bird and Magic saved the NBA not Jordan. The NBA was circling the drain until they came on the scene. Jordan took it to another level in the 90's for some but I look at the Bird Celtics/Magic Lakers as the high point for the NBA.

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

Yeah, but there are also probably about equal players who have done it that prefer Lebron over MJ.

Show us who and show us their quotes then. These quotes are from the top 50 players in the world. Who are yours from, Lonzo and Lamelo?

 

[BigCat241]

Show us who and show us their quotes then. These quotes are from the top 50 players in the world. Who are yours from, Lonzo and Lamelo?

Gary Payton- "LeBron Is The Better All-Around Basketball Player... By Far."

Allen Iverson: “As much as I love Michael Jordan, like, dawg, man, LeBron James is the one, dawg. He the one, man. That mother f*****r is the one, man.”

Bill Laimbeer: “I’m very vocal. I think LeBron is the best player that’s every played the game.

Oscar Robertson: “Is Barkley trying to say that he thinks LeBron is not as good as Michael Jordan? Come on. LeBron’s in a class by himself.”

Isiah Thomas: “For me, I look at the total body of work, what LeBron James is as a basketball player, and if I had to pick one over the other, right now, I’m picking LeBron James over Michael Jordan.

Gilbert Arenas: “The reason I feel LeBron is the GOAT is because during pressure times he still makes the actual right decision versus what us fans and the public wants him to do.

Pippen: "The numbers don't lie, he is right there. He probably won't catch him in terms of MVP, but in terms of statistics, LeBron is right there and when you look across the board, not just scoring, check his assists, check his rebounds, he is probably ahead of Jordan."

Julius Erving: "LeBron, it won't be the same for him. So he can still be that complete player... He's a total machine. He's gonna be the guy. He's gonna be the guy who re-establishes the bar for what the GOAT is."

Shaq: "He’s got four rings, and he becomes the highest scorer in the NBA history. He’s the best ever. Ain’t nothing you can say,.... “He’d be No. 1″.

Hopefully you reply to this to eat some of your crow but I wont be holding my breath.

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Here come the 30 and unders to honor their king

 

[Nightwish84]

Here come the 30 and unders to honor their king

Message boards are pretty much extinct, so I doubt you'll find any 30 and under people here. Besides, the debate can be fun and shouldn't be taken too seriously. I think Jordan is the greatest, but it's cool that every decade or so we get to witness insane talent on a professional level.

 

[Magilla Gorillla]

Bill Russell says I'll see your six rings and raise you five to 11.

Robert Horry saw his 6 and raised it to 7.

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

Gary Payton- "LeBron Is The Better All-Around Basketball Player... By Far."

Allen Iverson: “As much as I love Michael Jordan, like, dawg, man, LeBron James is the one, dawg. He the one, man. That mother f*****r is the one, man.”

Bill Laimbeer: “I’m very vocal. I think LeBron is the best player that’s every played the game.

Oscar Robertson: “Is Barkley trying to say that he thinks LeBron is not as good as Michael Jordan? Come on. LeBron’s in a class by himself.”

Isiah Thomas: “For me, I look at the total body of work, what LeBron James is as a basketball player, and if I had to pick one over the other, right now, I’m picking LeBron James over Michael Jordan.

Gilbert Arenas: “The reason I feel LeBron is the GOAT is because during pressure times he still makes the actual right decision versus what us fans and the public wants him to do.

Pippen: "The numbers don't lie, he is right there. He probably won't catch him in terms of MVP, but in terms of statistics, LeBron is right there and when you look across the board, not just scoring, check his assists, check his rebounds, he is probably ahead of Jordan."

Julius Erving: "LeBron, it won't be the same for him. So he can still be that complete player... He's a total machine. He's gonna be the guy. He's gonna be the guy who re-establishes the bar for what the GOAT is."

Shaq: "He’s got four rings, and he becomes the highest scorer in the NBA history. He’s the best ever. Ain’t nothing you can say,.... “He’d be No. 1″.

Hopefully you reply to this to eat some of your crow but I wont be holding my breath.

It’s a start, so let me pick this apart.
1. Shaq is in both quotes so his point is moot. He says MJ up top then LJ down here.
2. Allen Iverson is also in both so he doesn’t count either.
3. Pippen hates MJ so that’s comical.
4. I’ll give you Dr J and Oscar, so you have 2
5. The other players you quote are NOT top tier players, you lose.

 

[Aike]

Gotta leave room for the younger generation. For instance, check out this quote from an up and comer out of Portland:

"I see myself as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball."

~ S.S.

The game is ever evolving and changing, and clearly the best is yet to come.

 

[BigCat241]

It’s a start, so let me pick this apart.
1. Shaq is in both quotes so his point is moot. He says MJ up top then LJ down here.
2. Allen Iverson is also in both so he doesn’t count either.
3. Pippen hates MJ so that’s comical.
4. I’ll give you Dr J and Oscar, so you have 2
5. The other players you quote are NOT top tier players, you lose.

1 and 2- Both Shaq and AI quotes I supplied are after those that the OP supplied and are more recent.
3. If you are going to use KG and Barkley quotes (both major Lebron haters) then no way you cant use a Pippen one giving it to Bron lmao.

I dont know why you are going through these hoops either, its pretty clear that some all time greats prefer Lebron and some prefer MJ lol.

 

[BigCat241]

5. The other players you quote are NOT top tier players, you lose.

And wait, Isiah Thomas and Gary Payton not top tier players? Really?

 

[HCaulfield]

"Kevin Garnett: "He saved basketball when basketball was about to be lost. When we had addicts, when kids were coming to camp overweight. Who do you think started coming to camp fit, ready for day one? Who started it's?"

Betcha Bird and Magic showed up fit and ready to play.

First, Michael Jordan = GOAT.

with respect to KG, the mighty battles between the Lakers and Celtics in the eighties drove the NBA into the stratosphere. Magic, Larry Bird, Kareem, Parrish, and the rest of those guys delivered basketball that hadn’t been seen before.

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

1 and 2- Both Shaq and AI quotes I supplied are after those that the OP supplied and are more recent.
3. If you are going to use KG and Barkley quotes (both major Lebron haters) then no way you cant use a Pippen one giving it to Bron lmao.

I dont know why you are going through these hoops either, its pretty clear that some all time greats prefer Lebron and some prefer MJ lol.

Bird, Magic, The Dream, Wade, Durant, West, Dirk Vince, Ewing…..trump Thomas and Oscar sorry. Notice I didn’t use Pippen, Barkley and KG
No way will I concede to a tie with your list, it’s MJ

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

And wait, Isiah Thomas and Gary Payton not top tier players? Really?

Thomas maybe, Gary??? Hell no

 

[shaudyshaud]

Bird, Magic, The Dream, Wade, Durant, West, Dirk Vince, Ewing…..trump Thomas and Oscar sorry. Notice I didn’t use Pippen, Barkley and KG
No way will I concede to a tie with your list, it’s MJ

Well your initial take was find quotes from top 50 players who are yours from The ball brothers?

He simply found quotes to prove his original point on you can find players listing both as their goat .

Some of you just want to argue for no reason at all .

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

Well your initial take was find quotes from top 50 players who are yours from The ball brothers?

He simply found quotes to prove his original point on you can find players listing both as their goat .

Some of you just want to argue for no reason at all .

Hell, I can find “players” to quote that I’m the greatest. What is meant from this whole thread, since you can’t seem to figure it out are top 50 players of all time, Dream Team players and over 75% say MJ.

 

[electricat2]

jmho but i think lrbron is the best physical specimen to ever play and COULD have been even greater but lacks something.
that something is what jordan has in spades and to me that makes him the greatest.
also think it is disrespectful to jabbar to not metion him more in these conversations.

 

[DeerTurkHunter1]

Well your initial take was find quotes from top 50 players who are yours from The ball brothers?

He simply found quotes to prove his original point on you can find players listing both as their goat .

Some of you just want to argue for no reason at all .

His players are not very much above the Ball Brothers except for Oscar Robinson and Dr J. Isiah Thomas wasn’t on the Dream Team and I gave him that one.