It seems as if Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James believes himself to be the greatest basketball player in the history of the sport. He’s gone on record as saying that the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 3-1 series comeback in the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors made him feel like the greatest player of all time.
But the debate is often controversial, and NBA legend Charles Barkley recently claimed that the only thing he hates about the four-time NBA champion is that if one doesn’t crown him as the best ever, James and those in his circle see that as a slight.
“That’s the only thing I hate about LeBron,” Barkley said. “First of all, he’s a great, great player. He’s an amazing person, really nice guy. But for him and his guys, if you don’t say he’s the greatest ever, it’s like you committing treason.
“… But that’s the only thing I don’t like about LeBron and his guys. They’re like, if you don’t say he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, they hate you. And it’s really sad.”
It’s evident that James has an incredibly strong case for being the G.O.A.T. or greatest of all time. For one, he’s scored more points over the course of his career than any other player in the history of the NBA. Moreover, he’s set to break a league record for the most seasons played in NBA history with 23 when he suits up in the coming 2025-26 campaign.
Beyond his individual accomplishments, the four-time MVP has also been a winner over the course of his pro career. He’s one of only a handful of players to reach the league’s mountaintop with three different teams, and just three folks have suited up in more NBA Finals games than him. He also still has a chance to add another ring to his stash before he retires, which would be his fifth.
Just because James has a compelling case as the greatest NBA player ever does not mean he’s the definitive G.O.A.T. pick, however. Maybe no player achieved more across 15 years in the league than Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, as in that time, he won 10 scoring titles, five MVPs, six championships and came out on top in every one of the six NBA Finals he played in.
All in all, Barkley may be valid to criticize James and his camp for their possible attempts to gatekeep the G.O.A.T. debate, as it ultimately is a subjective topic with no right answer to it.