What defines a GOAT? Becoming a GOAT signifies you as the greatest of all time. “In senses corresponding to great adj. III.: having the most significant effects, importance, distinction, etc.” (greatest, adj., n., and adv.). Michael Jordan is probably the most well-known figure in basketball history. His never give up attitude allowed him to perfect his skills and put him way ahead of his time. However, Lebron James deserves his place in this same conversation. Lebron James is the most unstoppable player of our time; he has carried his teammates and has become a leader for the younger generation. Both Michael Jordan and Lebron James will both go down as two of the greatest basketball players of all time; both players differ in childhood but share similar brands and achievements.
Michael Jordan was not always the superstar we all know and love. Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn but was raised in North Carolina. Growing up he was taught to never give up and to always do his best under any circumstances. Michael Jordan was in fact denied a spot as a freshman for being too short, and was cut from his high school team as a sophomore due to lack of skill (“Michael Jordan” 1240)! This didn’t stop him though. He continued to work hard and improve his craft. Michael Jordan once said “I played it to the best that I could play it. I tried to enhance the game itself. I tried to be the best basketball player I could be.” With this, Michael was able to attract enough attention to attend the University of North Carolina. On this team, he hit a game winning shot that won the NCAA title for his team. This solidified his spot in the NBA when he was finally drafted for the Chicago Bulls in 1984.
Unlike Jordan, Lebron had the natural talent to be great early on. Lebron was a neighborhood sensation since elementary school and was even given the title Mr. Basketball three times in Ohio (Augstyn 1). Lebron was way ahead of his time, displaying talents nobody in his age range could pull off. He was very unique in both his size and play style. He was too large to be guarded by any guards and too fast to be guarded by any small forward. James was drafted straight out of high school into the NBA. He was one of the few young basketball prodigies that actually lived up to the hype.
Michael Jordan fought through his tough childhood and gathered up multiple achievements under his belt. Michael Jordan’s most prized achievements are his SIX championship rings! He also managed to solidify six MVP titles; this is only short two titles of the world record, eight, held by Wilt Chamberlain. Michael Jordan always lifted up his teammates. When he joined the Chicago Bulls he brought his team to six playoffs and won all of them!
Similarly, Lebron brought his team to countless playoffs. Most Lebron fans allude to his exceptional rebounding, quick passing abilities, and the possibility of more MVP titles. Lebron has carried his team countlessly and managed to pull off an astounding 34.3-point average (Gregory 25). Lebron has consistently brought whatever team he plays on to the playoffs. He has a total of eight consecutive NBA final appearances and is a four-time NBA MVP! Lebron James played a total of 689 games in his first nine seasons. In this time, he played a total of 27,497 minutes. He already surpassed two amazing players such as Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant (Korzemba)
Through the rough uprising and amazing accomplishments, Michael Jordan was able to create a groundbreaking brand that shook the market globally. Arnold Schwarzenegger says that Michael Jordan perfectly timed his game and his association with basketball and advertisement. He became the most popular player at the same time basketball was the most popular sport (Review of Michael Jordan…). This helped carry Jordan brand to the next level. To this day, the Jordan brand continues to rule the basketball market. Everyone knows the staple Jordan brand sign with Air Jordan soaring in the air effortlessly. You see it on celebrities and the average Joe around the world. Jordan became the face of Nike in 1985, allowing sales to increase drastically. He used the image of his iconic dunk and his signature quote “Be Like Mike!” (“My Family…” 376-379).
Like Jordan, Lebron was able to carry himself as one of the most successful brands. Lebron is overlooked as a business man. Lebron was granted a 90-million-dollar deal with Nike. With this endorsement deal and his dominating performance on court, he was able to sign a deal with other companies such as McDonalds, Coca Cola, Microsoft, and more (Roberts).
Both of these players have racked up amazing accomplishments throughout their careers. They have both left a huge mark on the sport; their styles will continue to influence the newer generation of basketball.