Some people feel that LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time, while others put him behind Michael Jordan and maybe a few other NBA icons.
But Tracy McGrady believes James would be the clear GOAT, if only he used the triangle offense.
“If we take Bron who he is now… and put him in that triangle… I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be,” McGrady said while speaking with Gilbert Arenas.
T-Mac says if LeBron James played in a triangle offense he’d be the GOAT:
“If we take Bron who he is now… and put him in that triangle… I don't think there's any question who the greatest player would be.”
(via @GilsArenaShow) pic.twitter.com/AQoBUXict8
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 13, 2025
The triangle offense is the very same approach to the game that was used by Jordan and his Chicago Bulls.
So, if James were playing the same sort of style, McGrady thinks he would have been even better than Jordan.
McGrady said that James has never played with a proper offensive system, mostly because he has been so good from such a young age.
Instead of adapting to the style that his coaches created, teams adapted to James.
It’s obviously worked out well for James and the teams he has been a part of, and it has resulted in four championships.
Four is a lot, but it’s not the six that Jordan had.
Some fans argue that James would have a stronger clutch gene if he had grown up with the triangle offense.
That could have led to even more explosive moments throughout his career, and perhaps a more unanimous opinion about him being the greatest of all time.
But even without playing triangle, people love what he has done in the league, and James is still considered one of the best to ever walk on the court.
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