USA Today via Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds up four fingers after winning his fourth NBA championship after game six of the 2020 NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers won 106-93 to win the series. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds up four fingers after winning his fourth NBA championship after game six of the 2020 NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers won 106-93 to win the series. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The 2019-20 NBA season is over, with the Lakers having won it all. Following the epic championship run, Lakers superstar LeBron James won the 4th ring of his career. This ring has reignited the GOAT debate, and many believe LBJ has edged closer to Michael Jordan.
Jordan, who is regarded as the greatest player of all time by most NBA fans, had an untainted 6-0 record in the Finals. Moreover, Jordan’s killer mentality made him the ultimate competitor in the league.
Former Lakers superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar offered his two cents on the GOAT debate on ESPN’s First Take. KAJ strongly believes that each era in the history of the league has been different. Any particular era can make or break a player’s legacy as well.
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“I think the eras should definitely have to be checked into consideration. If you are playing and there is no 24-second clock, that will have a whole different affect on the scores.
ERAS MATTER!
According to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, we have to take different eras of basketball into consideration when having the :goat: debate. pic.twitter.com/T8DltJsrkI
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 13, 2020
“So how do you judge what happened before the 24-second clock? Against what happened after the 24-second clock? Or the 3-point shot or the fact that people have starting to embrace the 3-point shot.
“People like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson that can shoot well. And now that has affected the game. It’s different tactics and different emotions that are allowed to dominate the game through the different eras.”
As Kareem said, each era holds its own importance in the history of the NBA. Due to that fact, comparing players from different eras holds no relevance. Instead, fans should enjoy the greatness of the best players from their generation.
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Does the 2020 NBA Championship bolster LeBron James’ case for the GOAT?
USA Today via Reuters
The Los Angeles Lakers pose for a photo after game six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena. The Los Angeles Lakers won 106-93 to win the series. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James carried the team on their back during the postseason. As a result, they gracefully overcame each opponent in the NBA Finals.
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Moreover, the championship #17 holds a high value for both LBJ and the Lakers. The championship has tied the L.A. Lakers with the Celtics for the most titles in league history.
On the other hand, James’ Finals record of 3-6 has now improved to 4-6, and he is far from done. That raises one question: Can the Lakers bag a brace?
