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LeBron James is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and arguably the greatest player of his generation. James' longevity and durability allowed him to have one of the most amazing careers in NBA history. He has entered the GOAT conversation and some even believe he has surpassed Michael Jordan.
In terms of statistics, James owns a bunch of records over Jordan or any other player in the GOAT debate. He's still behind in terms of championships and his NBA Finals record is a big talking point for his critics.
At this point, the GOAT talk has reached a point where some people make arguments just for the sake of making one. Here are the Top 10 "LeBron James is the GOAT" arguments that make no sense:
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Top 10 'LeBron James is the GOAT' arguments that make no sense
1. 3 Olympic gold medals
"King James" won his third Olympic gold medal earlier this month, leading Team USA to another international triumph. This argument doesn't make sense because Kevin Durant is considered the greatest men's international basketball player ever with four gold medals.
James was also part of the 2004 Olympic team that took home the bronze medal. While some might argue that he was still young when this happened, Michael Jordan fans could point out that the Chicago Bulls legend won his first Olympic gold as a collegiate player.
2. Career longevity
LeBron James has reached a point in his career where he's the oldest player in the league. James has also played against a bunch of father-son NBA players, highlighting his career longevity. He has taken care of his body and has remained effective late in his 30s.
However, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also had a long career in the NBA and was the previous benchmark for longevity. He barely makes the GOAT debate, but if you look into his overall career, he won at every level from high school to the NBA. He was also 22 years old when he entered the league, so it's impressive that he still played for 20 seasons.
3. NBA All-Time Scoring King
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was atop the all-time scoring list for more than three decades but was very sporadically mentioned in the GOAT debate. But when LeBron James passed him, some called it the icing on the cake on why he will go down as the greatest ever.
While the longevity argument is a valid point in talking about the GOAT career, it doesn't make sense for the GOAT debate. Michael Jordan retired three times, Magic Johnson's career was cut short by HIV, Kobe Bryant was no longer himself the last couple of years of his career and more.
4. 'Best offensive' player of all time
Even though LeBron James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, many people don't think he's the greatest offensive player ever. That title could go to several players such as Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony.
James could use the term "complete offensive" player given his great playmaking skills and improved shooting. He can score in the post most of the time although his free throws remain a weakness.
5. 2016 NBA Finals win over the Golden State Warriors
"Cleveland, this is for you" might be the most iconic quote of LeBron James' career. James leading the Cavaliers to their lone NBA championship should end up as his greatest accomplishment considering they came back from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.
However, this should not be the sole reason why James is the GOAT. He has a total of four NBA championships, falling short behind other players in the conversation. He might have one more run in him to at least shut down those who have him below Kobe Bryant on their all-time list.
6. 'Most versatile defensive player' of all time
There's no doubt that LeBron James is one of the best defenders the game has ever seen, especially during his peak. However, James stopped playing lockdown defense for years since he wanted to preserve his body when it mattered the most.
James is a versatile defender and can guard any position but he's not the most versatile defender of all time. It's still a debate since there are other great defenders such as Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Garnett and Ben Wallace in the conversation.
7. 'Most dominant player' of all time
There are only two players in NBA history who should be in the debate for the most dominant player of all time – Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain. These two legends physically dominated the league and both were virtually unstoppable forces individually.
Is LeBron James a dominant player? Of course, but he's not the most dominant player ever. Don't use it for the GOAT debate.
8. 'Most influential player' of all time
In terms of influence on the game of basketball, LeBron James is often given credit for the scrutiny he has endured for the majority of his career. James' philanthropic work is an inspiration that many athletes should replicate.
Is he the most influential player ever? No, it's Michael Jordan. The NBA became a global game because of him. Most players in LeBron's generation wanted to be "Like Mike," even him. He wears No. 23 because of him.
What most players should be thankful to "The King" is for giving players control of their future. He became a "villain" to give free agents power in terms of doing what's best for their careers.
9. 'Most efficient' volume scorer
Is LeBron James efficient? Yes, he's one of the most efficient players of all time. He's actually third on the all-time list for Player Efficiency Rating at 27.06 just behind Nikola Jokic (28.08) and Michael Jordan (27.91).
But his fans should stop using "most efficient volume scorer" to describe him since the stats back up Jordan over him. They can use other tools to separate him from MJ, but this is not one of them.
10. 2007 playoff run with the Cavaliers
Some fans look at LeBron James' run to the 2007 NBA Finals as another reason why he's the GOAT. It's a weird argument given that he didn't win an NBA championship and was swept by the San Antonio Spurs that year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat two .500 teams in the first two rounds and the only impressive series they had was over the 53-win Detroit Pistons. Nevertheless, it's still impressive that James was able to carry that Cleveland team to the NBA Finals.
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