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“Cristiano Ronaldo = Michael Jordan”: Former Miami Heat Star Equating LeBron James to Lionel Messi Leaves NBA Fans Gobsmacked

Published 04/25/2022, 8:30 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

In a recent video shared on Twitter, former Miami Heat player, Josh Richardson said LeBron James is the Lionel Messi of the NBA. And this has stunned NBA fans around the world. Josh Richardson now plays for the San Antonio Spurs.

In what seems to be an interview, Josh was given names of soccer players and was asked to name their equivalent in the NBA. And his answer for Lionel Messi shocked a lot of people as he compared him to LeBron James.

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The GOAT debate in the NBA is a never-ending one. Similarly, the GOAT of soccer debate is endless. While some say Lionel Messi is the GOAT, others say it is Cristiano Ronaldo. And Josh’s comments have started the GOAT debate amongst Michael Jordan‘s fans and LeBron James’ fans.

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Josh Richardson also compared Kylian Mbappe to Ja Morant and Neymar to Kyrie Irving. It is likely that the interviewer is an Arsenal fan, as he asked about two Arsenal players. And Josh Richardson compared Bukayo Saka to Darius Garland and Alexandre Lacazette to Chris Paul.

And fans wondered whether Josh Richardson really knows about the soccer players in question or not.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan all came from very humble beginnings. And carved out their names in the history of sports with their sheer hard work and dedication.

Is LeBron James the GOAT?

In the past, most NBA fans have borderline denied having LeBron James in the GOAT discussion. But he is definitely making strides with all the records that he is breaking.

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Where LeBron lacks in championships, he scores in longevity. At 37, LeBron James was in contention for the scoring championship for this season. LeBron James has the most points ever in playoff history. Also, he has the #1 spot in the overall points scored, adding both the regular season and playoffs. 

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USA Today via Reuters

Also, LeBron James is only behind the Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in regular-season points. Recently, he became the first-ever player in the history of the NBA to reach 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. This shows the immense versatility that James possesses. It is partly down to LeBron James’ size. And the raw power, speed, and quickness he had when he first started out in the NBA were scary. 

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When LeBron James reaches the end of his career, he would’ve broken a couple more records. And when it’s all said and done, LeBron James will be the top 3 NBA players of all time.

Do you think LeBron James is the GOAT of the NBA?

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Written by:

Bagavathi Eswaran

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Bagavathi Eswaran is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He has been playing the game of basketball for more than 20 years now and has also been following the NBA for more than 10 years. After not being able to go pro, this former college player decided to join the IT industry.
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Edited by:

Ajinkya Aswale