Jordan vs LeBron: Durant Weighs In on GOAT Debate, Makes His Pick

Jordan vs LeBron: Durant Weighs In on GOAT Debate, Makes His Pick

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:21 PM
  • Kevin Durant has weighed in on the GOAT debate pitting Michael Jordan against LeBron James
  • The debate has dominated NBA discourse for years, but Jordan has always been considered GOAT
  • The argument may be different when James becomes the all-time leader in points in NBA history next year

Two-time NBA champions Kevin Durant has named the greatest basketball player of all time after picking between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

The G.O.A.T debate has raged for years and with James closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list, the debate will surely be different among NBA fans.

Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors
The three players have won 12 NBA titles among them. Photos by Rocky Widner/NBAE, Mike Stobe and Adam Pantozzi/NBAE.
Source: Getty Images

Jordan has long been considered to be not only the greatest basketball player of all time but also an iconic figure in all sports in general.

Although Jordan retired for the third and final time in April 2003, fans around the world usually rank him alongside sporting icons such as as the late Pele and Muhammad Ali.

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The two have dominated NBA discourse for years. James has scored the most points in playoff history, while Jordan has more Finals MVPs, per ESPN.

Jordan is 6-0 in the NBA Finals, while James is 4-6. Jordan's record, for many fans, is indisputable proof that he is the greatest of all time.

Durant on GOAT debate

Finals wins and clutch moments have always come up in the argument which will surely continue for years to come.

Speaking to former NBA star Jamal Crawford on NBA TV recently, Durant was asked quick-fire questions, which was capped off by him declaring Jordan as the GOAT, per House of Highlights.

Crawford: "Bron"
KD: "The greatest. The most accomplished. About to pass Kareem like (expletive) that's gonna be a day."
Crawford: "Jordan"
KD: "The GOAT"

It will be interesting to see how the discourse will be when James becomes the all-time leader in scoring.

ESPN projects that the former Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar will pass Abdul-Jabbar early next year if he maintains his current scoring averages.

Nowitzki on GOAT debate

Sports Brief earlier reported on Dirk Nowitzki saying James may become GOAT if he passes Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record.

Nowitzki said if LeBron passes Abdul-Jabbar, he could become the greatest NBA player of all time.

"I always say Michael Jordan is the GOAT," Nowitzki added, "but if [James] really surpasses Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] with the scoring record, I'm sort of running out of arguments for Michael."
Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.
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