At age 41, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers set the NBA all-time field goals made record, now at 15,838 buckets and counting. LeBron James field goals made record, LeBron James breaks NBA all-time field goals made record, LeBron passes Kareem all-time field goals made record, LeBron James scoring record, LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar field goal record, LeBron James untouchable NBA records, Lakers game, Los Angeles Lakers Denver Nuggets game stat, LeBron James Lakers, Lakers LeBron James
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LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to break the NBA's all-time field goals made record with his third made shot in the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, March 5th, 2026.
The debate over the greatest player in NBA history has resurfaced once again after Michael Jordan offered rare comments on the topic during NBC Sports’ “Insights to Excellence” series — remarks that inevitably bring LeBron James back into the center of the conversation.
For decades, Jordan’s legacy with the Chicago Bulls defined basketball greatness. His perfect 6–0 NBA Finals record, six Finals MVPs and global cultural impact helped cement him as the benchmark for dominance.
But James’ unprecedented longevity with the Los Angeles Lakers and previous stops with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat has reshaped the conversation about greatness in the modern NBA.
Jordan, however, made clear he has never embraced the “greatest of all time” label.
“The whole GOAT term is never going to be something that I ever get high or low about,” Jordan said. “It just doesn’t exist with me.”
Michael Jordan Questions GOAT Comparisons Across NBA Eras
Jordan said the biggest issue with the GOAT debate is that players from different eras never competed directly against each other.
“I never played against Oscar Robertson or Jerry West,” Jordan explained. “I would have loved to — absolutely loved to — just as competitive as I am. And I actually learned from them.”
Jordan said basketball’s generational progression makes comparisons nearly impossible.
“That’s the beauty of the game of basketball — that a player after a previous player has evolved the game further,” he said.
Yet Jordan believes the constant debate often creates unnecessary tension between generations.
“The marketing part, the hype part, the things that try to elevate one generation above the other — I think it creates animosity,” Jordan said. “I have no animosity against today’s players.”
Jordan even praised modern stars who have carried the league forward.
“I think LeBron has had an unbelievable career and I admire him for what he’s done,” Jordan said. “And Kobe as well as KD and all these guys who have played in this era. They’ve elevated the game tremendously.”
LeBron James Focused on Legacy Beyond GOAT Debate
While the GOAT argument continues to dominate basketball discussions, James himself has often taken a different approach when asked about his legacy.
The Lakers superstar, now in his 23rd NBA season, recently reflected on how he hopes his career will be remembered once he eventually retires.
“I didn’t cheat the game,” James told the California Post recently. “Listen, I’ve dedicated myself to this sport. I’ve never cheated the game.”
James said his goal was never solely about championships or records, but about honoring the game through preparation and professionalism.
“I’ve showed up every day on time,” he said. “I’ve put my work in both on the court and off the court. Just showed grace. That’s what it’s about.”
The four-time NBA champion added that he always understood how much the sport had given him and his family.
“I’ve just wanted to maximize and squeeze everything I could out of the game because I understood what it gave me, my family and everything,” James said. “So I was never going to disrespect the game gods.”
Jordan Warns GOAT Debate Can Overshadow Earlier Legends
Jordan also cautioned that the GOAT debate sometimes diminishes the accomplishments of earlier generations.
“By doing that, you somewhat forget about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell,” Jordan said.
Russell’s 11 NBA championships remain one of the most remarkable records in professional sports history, while Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA scoring record for nearly four decades before James surpassed it.
“How do you just push them in the corner and say, ‘Oh, we forgot about you?’” Jordan said.
GOAT Debate Continues With No Clear Answer
Ultimately, Jordan suggested the GOAT debate may never have a definitive answer.
“It’s an empty comparison,” he said. “You’ll absolutely never find the true answer to that question. It’s a circular conversation.”
Yet the argument persists among fans, fueled by Jordan’s flawless Finals résumé and James’ unmatched longevity and statistical milestones.
And as James continues adding chapters to one of the longest and most decorated careers in NBA history, the debate over basketball’s greatest player remains far from settled.