WWE wrestling champion Randy Orton has lashed out at basketball legend LeBron James amid an ongoing national discussion about who is the greatest basketball player of all time (GOAT). Orton made his opinion clear by stating, “F**k LeBron.” Speaking on a podcast with Cody Rhodes, Mr. Orton dismissed the question with a raised hand before delivering the contentious remark.
The debate about who is the greatest player has been running on for months, with LeBron James and Michael Jordan widely considered the top two contenders. Several fans and pundits began placing James at the top of the list earlier this year when he became the first NBA player in history to reach 40,000 points. Mr. James also holds a longevity advantage, but Jordan has a higher average points score of 30.1, compared to 27.1 for LeBron James. Nevertheless, James had a higher total games figure at 1,492 – as of March 2024 – while Mr. Jordan’s number was lower at 1,072.
Some commentators, however, believe some things are more important than simple figures and point to Jordan’s personal characteristics, which they think make him a more outstanding champion. In his book, Greatness: 16 Characteristics of True Champions, Don Yaeger argued that Jordan’s “commitment to improvement” gives him the edge. Yaeger points out that Michael Jordan entered the professional arena and was an instant celebrity because of his raw talent, but he did not win his first NBA championship until seven years later.
Mr. Jordan has spoken about the realizations he came to in his early career, saying, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” Following Chicago’s losses to the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Jordan began developing new aspects of his game and learned the value of teamwork and how to raise his teammates’ confidence and competence.
Mr. Yaeger clarified what he believed separates champions, legends, or GOATs from the rest of the pack. He stated that true champions ask themselves, “What is my weakness, and what am I doing to turn it into a strength.” He believes, on that question, Michael Jordan is the greatest NBA player of all time.
