For decades, people have engaged in a futile and never-ending debate about whoās the greatest player in NBA history. Unsurprisingly, most of them always come down to either LeBron James or Michael Jordan.
Jordan and James didnāt even play the same position. They thrived under different sets of rules, playing in a different era, with different styles, and against different rivals. So, itās hard to be objective when discussing this matter.
Then again, for Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius āDr. Jā Erving is an easy choice. For him, Jamesā longevity and durability have put him in a league of his own, going as far as to call him ā The Chosen Oneā.
NBA News: Dr. J Says LeBron James Is The Chosen One
(Transcript via Fadeaway World)
Interviewer: āLeBron is closing in right, on the all-time points record right now. So what are your thoughts on LeBron James and where he rests on the all-time conversation, the GOATness, if you will.ā
Julius Erving: āWell, heās gone past everybody for one thing. He comes in at 18 years old and he had the pro body and the pro ability as a high schooler. I really havenāt seen anybody have that package. Moses, he was probably the closest and there was Bill Willoughby who it didnāt work out for. And there were some other guys, like Kevin Garnett, but heās not LeBron and heās not Moses.
āSo, LeBron is the Chosen One in that regard. Heās gonna play into his 40s. Heās gonna have, you know, a 22 or 23-year career. And nobodyās done that in basketball either. Those last few years for Shaq and for Kobe, you know they were on the bench, they were on the sidelines. LeBron, it wonāt be the same for him. So he can still be that complete playerā¦ Heās a total machine. Heās gonna be the guy. Heās gonna be the guy who re-establishes the bar for what the GOAT is.ā
Some will argue that longevity doesnāt equal skill, and thatās a valid point. Then again, what James is doing is unprecedented and not likely to be done again, so we have to give credit where itās due.
