One of the greatest players in NBA history, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, is widely regarded as one of the best by those who played alongside or against him. Yet, one of his former teammates did not name him as the greatest of all time — and he also passed over Michael Jordan.
Former NBA player Josh Powell, who won two championships alongside Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers, explained why he believes LeBron James holds the GOAT title during an appearance on Scorer’s Society.
“I really do feel in my heart of hearts, LeBron James at the end of the day, that’s top dog,” Powell said. “We ain’t seen nothing like that. They just put a stat up for people that have played 20 years. And it was a list of who? Jamal [Crawford], Dirk [Nowitzki], [Kevin Garnett]… I think KG might have been the closest with nine points.”
Powell is amazed by James’ production and consistency at this stage of his career. The 40-year-old averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25, marking his 22nd season in the NBA.
Vince Carter is the only other player to have played 22 seasons in the NBA, and he averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in that campaign. The difference is staggering.
It is also notable that Powell did not choose Bryant, who was arguably the centerpiece of those Los Angeles Lakers championship teams in 2009 and 2010. Bryant set a standard for mentality, leadership, and competitive focus that defined the era.
Powell also emphasized that James’ longevity is undervalued simply because of who he is. He suggested that if Michael Jordan had maintained this level of production for 22 seasons, the achievement would be universally celebrated. “How do you remain that consistent and locked in for that amount of time?” Powell asked. “I mean, it can be done, but I think there are people that just don’t care.”
James has won four NBA titles, four Finals MVPs, four league MVPs, a scoring title, and an assists title. He has also been selected to a record 21 All-Star and 21 All-NBA teams and is the league’s all-time leading scorer. Those feats are remarkable, yet critics often fail to fully acknowledge them.
In comparison, Jordan won six NBA titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year award, and ten scoring titles. Bryant, meanwhile, captured five NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, one league MVP, and two scoring titles during his storied career.