Many sports outlets and platforms carry this debate as well as many more fans all over social media. Tom Brady idolized Joe Montana. Used Montana as inspiration and motivation. He wanted to be like Montana and even play for the 49ers. Lebron like many young African-Americans wanted to be like Mike. Lebron humbly calls himself "A kid from Akron," who looked up to MJ, wanted to be a great player as well as very influential in the NBA.

 

We are in the latter years of Lebron James career. A career that traversed Cleveland-Miami-Cleveland and currently Los Angeles. It's no secret that LBJ is in search of his fourth title amid a ridiculously formidable Western Conference, yet now the East that was least is starting to become a beast with great teams in Milwaukee, Toronto(believe it or not) and Philadelphia. Just trying to paint a clearer picture of the degree of difficulty in winning a Championship and we'd be remiss to exclude Golden State and Houston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can tell we're rooting for Lebron but to be truly objective on the "goat" debate, Michael edges Lebron for the title of Greatest of all time. Some sight MJ's 10 scoring titles to LBJ's one. Forget that. Many sight MJ's 6 rings to Lebron's 3. Forget that too. Even though they both have incredible basketball IQs what separates these two phenomenal men is the insanely relentless competitive nature of Michael Jordan to be the best at all costs and was successful in his preparation and focus. Enabling him to beat out all the demons/spirits that plague anyone when faced with a difficult task. Doubt, fear, complacency to name a few. Jordan did what it took to psyche himself up for a game and psyche his opponent out of theirs. 

 

The great Len Bias tragically left us before officially donning a Celtic jersey leaving us to question how MJ would have fared against someone of similar size and speed of Lebron but with an arguably better or NBA ready jump-shot. No doubt that even in a loss, Jordan would go down with a relentless fight, telling you how he's going to score on you and how much he's going to score on you. Torturing you all the way til the clocks at double zero. That's what makes MJ the "goat."

 

Lebron's on court in game efficiency and passing ability is ridiculously insane his talent rivals "Magic" Johnsons'. Adding to that insanity is the fact that Lebron has always been a pass first, make the right play, player who on March 6, 2019, passed MJ on the all-time scoring list with 32,311 points to MJ's 32,292 points. We're hoping Lebron will continue to improve and evolve his game and overall awareness to better able uplift and elevate his younger teammates through the insistently antagonistic fans during the age of an unfeeling digital trolly slash bully-ish social media that you can't get past if you want to use your phone. That would add to his legacy and go against the narrative of the media drama that surrounds him. 

 

Let's focus on the similarities of how both men used their minas/talents to achieve greatness and sustain success. Both men have beaten the odds. Both beaten great teams. Both employ a lot of people. Both are very influential on and off court. Both have great shoes. Both are goats to their respective time. We needed the talents/minas of fierceness of Michael to help to continue to break down the wall of racial divide so all kids could feel that it's possible to capture a dream and MJ will never stop his grind and that's great for the sport because Lebron will continue to stay on his grind, remaining  vocal on important social issues for those who can't speak out and don't have the platform, using his talents/minas of inclusion and togetherness probably formed from his humble beginnings as a child continuing to bring people from all backgrounds together.