LeBron James’ recent achievement of scoring 40,000 points has reignited the perennial debate over who truly deserves the title of the greatest of all time (GOAT).
As fans speculate about LeBron’s placement in the hierarchy following this milestone, FS1 NBA analyst Skip Bayless offered his perspective, which unsurprisingly didn’t favor the Lakers’ star. During a segment of The Skip Bayless Show where he fielded fan questions, Bayless responded to inquiries with his characteristic skepticism.
Bayless, known for his critical views on LeBron James throughout the years, maintained that he ranks the four-time NBA champion at number nine on his all-time list. Despite acknowledging the greatness of those placed ahead of LeBron, Bayless stood firm in his assessment.
One fan from New York, Dominick, sought to know if Bayless would reconsider LeBron’s ranking after reaching 40,000 points.
In response, Bayless stated, “Before 40,000 points, I had LeBron 9th on my all-time list. After 40,000 points, I still have LeBron 9th on my all-time list. Because playing longer does not make you better or more valuable.”
Bayless positions LeBron behind basketball luminaries such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant, and Larry Bird.
He argues that LeBron has yet to surpass their illustrious legacies, emphasizing that both Bird and Kobe exhibited superior shooting prowess and were more adept at sealing clutch moments compared to LeBron. Furthermore, Bayless contends that the next four big men on his list also outshine LeBron in various aspects.
The seasoned television host further elaborated, asserting, “LeBron has never been the leader or the winner that Magic Johnson was from day one.” Regarding the comparison between LeBron and Jordan, Bayless dismissed any notion of competition, asserting Jordan’s superiority across nearly every major category.
Bayless underscored their divergent achievements, citing Jordan’s 10 scoring titles to LeBron’s solitary one, Jordan’s Defensive Player of the Year award compared to LeBron’s absence in that regard, and Jordan’s perfect 6-0 record in the Finals versus LeBron’s 4-6 tally.
