The GOAT debate has been a point of contention for basketball fans for a long time now. His Airness, Michael Jordan, has been a top contender for many years, despite not being on an active roster. Seemingly, Jordan has become synonymous with the game. However, there are others who claim that there are others who are worthy of the GOAT title. LeBron James is arguably the next in line for this status. A 71-year-old NBA Hall of Famer expressed his choice for the GOAT debate earlier this week. His claim, however, hasn’t fared well in the online community.
George Karl has been honest to a fault. He has voiced out much of his personal views on the game and its players. This time, he settled the GOAT debate. He said he realized that the best way to piss off Los Angeles Lakers fans was to declare these “four simple words”.
Karl’s take on NBA GOAT
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
On his social media, George Karl posted a throwback photo of Michael Jordan putting a poster dunk on a Lakers player. He captioned the photo, “Learned this week there are four simple words to really piss off Lakers fans: Michael is the GOAT.”
Learned this week there are four simple words to really piss off Lakers fans: Michael is the GOAT. 😆🐐 pic.twitter.com/UyKKz9sHgp
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) January 14, 2023
This declaration may have been a response to his own tweet from earlier this week. He had written, “Anyone who is debating Michael’s GOAT status doesn’t realize he would average a 40 PPG triple-double in the modern game!” Some fans did not like his take. They accused him of being senile and cited that Jordan may not be able to dominate in today’s game.
He was convinced by the social media backlash that the Lakers fans were annoyed at his opinion. The Lakers fans may have been rooting for LeBron James, who is undoubtedly, making history in the league today. LeBron is en route to surpassing even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s All-Time Scoring record, a title that has not been broken for decades.
Michael Jordan, the reigning GOAT?
George Karl coached the Seattle Supersonics in the ’90s and played against Michael Jordan. With years of experience under his belt, is he justified when he says Jordan is the GOAT?
According to ‘Fadeaway World‘, both NBA analyst Chris Broussard and former coach Jeff Van Gundy shared a similar sentiment that Michael Jordan could average 40 points or more in the NBA today.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Broussard said, “When we say Michael Jordan could average 40 today, that’s not hyperbole. I mean it.” Gundy also said, ” So there is (absolutely) no question Michael Jordan would have led the league in scoring (in today’s time)…..he would’ve averaged 40 (points).”
But George Karl’s triple-double claim may have come across as an exaggeration.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: Luka Doncic Joins LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Other NBA Legends in Historic List After Another 50-Point Performance
Who do you think is the NBA GOAT?