In 2003, Lebron Raymond James was drafted into the NBA straight out of high school as the most hyped draft prospect of all time. Lebron was looked upon as the next Michael Jordan; to me, he not only has reached that mark, but surpassed it. In the NBA, players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who though are impressive in their own right, have been mistakenly called the GOAT. The GOAT, or greatest of all time, has many definitions: the player with the most rings, most longevity, highest scoring volume, and so much more. My criteria when deciding the GOAT consists of a combination of team success, impact both on and off the court, leadership abilities, versatility, longevity, incredible skill, and also how they inspire all athletes. Lebron’s combination of athleticism, work ethic, leadership, and off-court impact make him the GOAT, an inspiration to all athletes alike, even beyond basketball.
In his 22-season career, LeBron has won four championships, four MVPs, and two Olympic gold medals along with being on 21 NBA All-Star teams. His domination through the decades as the game changed to become a more scoring and shooting league, is one of his greatest accomplishments. His timeline is impeccable; from his start with the Cleveland Cavaliers to his first and second championship with the Miami Heat and back to Cleveland for their first championship. He continued this dominance well into the early 20s, his success with the Los Angeles Lakers getting his third championship and breaking the all-time scoring record, now having amassed over 50,000 points in all.
LeBron is unique because not only are his individual achievements, but his ability to play at the highest level for this long is something no player has ever been able to do. At 40, most great players were retired, but, not only does LeBron continue to play, he is arguably having his best stretch of games in years since the all-star break and is still considered a top-10 player currently to ESPN.
On top of his versatility, LeBron’s ability to help improve his teammates with his passing is a key part of why he’s so successful as an individual and on his teams. While most athletes are defined by their individual performances and statistics, LeBron’s ability to do everything at a high level in basketball has made his nearly impossible to completely shut down.
His general playmaking ability is considered the best of all time after Magic Johnson due to his 11,000+ assist count. On top of that, his scoring ability and athleticism allows him to control the tempo of the game and make a plethora of unique plays.
While some consider Michael Jordan better due to his six championships, defensive accolades, and mentality, he lacks the same versatility in his game due to his smaller height and weight. Lebron’s passing, shooting, rebounding, and overall impact offensively are the biggest gaps between the two. Lebron’s offensive capabilities and longevity completely shuts down the possibility of Jordan being my GOAT. While Jordan was by far the best player of his generation, he only really shined in the 90s, yet LeBron has consistently been a top-5 player for decades.
Lebrons work ethic and perseverance have led him to adapt his style of basketball to the generation and team he plays with. From playing small forward for the majority of his career to being placed as the point guard for some of his time in LA, he truly showcased his versatility and ability to help his team.
Off the court, LeBron’s impact is just as significant. His commitment and advocacy for social justice and education has made him a role model for all around the world. LeBron has used his platform to speak out on problems in our community like racism and police brutality. For example, in 2018, LeBron opened the I PROMISE School in Akron, which provides free education, meals, and college tuition to at-risk children. According to reports, 90% of the students enrolled in the school come from families below the poverty line, and many are children of color.
LeBron James is not just the greatest basketball player of all time, but he is a symbol of inspiration for all athletes. His perseverance, his work ethic, his leadership, and his commitment to making a difference in our community, make him a role model for anyone. LeBron has shown that greatness is shown not just by personal accomplishments, but by the impact you have on the world around you.LeBron James is not just the GOAT of basketball, but he is an inspiration for humanity.
