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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The GOAT debate in the NBA is a never-ending cycle among fans. While there are many players who have achieved greatness, there are only two players who come up in the conversation for the greatest. LeBron James vs Michael Jordan debate has been ongoing for nearly a decade. Both players achieved incredible feats through their important careers. However, both of them can’t be at the top of the mountain. And in a recent debate, an analyst explained why being second isn’t so bad.

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When it comes to the NBA, both James and Jordan are at the pinnacle without a doubt. They both proved they can win and were valuable assets to their teams. Moreover, their impact off the court is also significant. But there are arguments against both for beating one another.

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One argument that is held against the King is he failed to win most of the finals he has been a part of. However, Emmanuel Acho holds it as his greatest achievement.

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Acho picks LeBron James over Michael Jordan

On a recent episode of ‘Speak for Yourself, Acho went over LeBron saying he became the greatest basketball player after the 2016 comeback. While it was one of the most impressive moments in sports history, Acho thinks there is something greater in James’ career. He believes LeBron getting to nine straight NBA finals in ten years is what elevated him to GOAT status rather than the 3-1 comeback. Acho calls it the most impressive feat in American sports history.

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He said: “LeBron James did become the GOAT but it wasn’t in 2016. The most impressive athletic feat maybe in American sports history is not LeBron James coming back from down 3-1, it’s not even Tom Brady’s seven super bowls, it’s not Michael Jordan going six for six. It is LeBron James going to the NBA finals nine times in ten years.” Acho continues saying, “The problem we have with the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, the MLB is, in our society we only pay respect to who wins and we disregard every other place. We treat second place like 99th place.”

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USA Today via Reuters

Over the years, the case of James not winning has left a dent in his legacy. Often times analysts go as far as saying James isn’t a winning player. However, that argument does not cover the entire story. LeBron ranks third for most finals appearances in NBA history with 10. However, that doesn’t take into account the times he didn’t finish the job.

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While Jordan going 6-0 remains to be an inhuman feat, how do LeBron’s finals appearances match up?

The King is still a winner

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LeBron is one of the most complete basketball players who makes every team he is in one better. Moreover, he knows how to win taking with proof of him making the finals for 9 straight years. But he couldn’t win all, and does that make it less great?

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USA Today via Reuters

But in fact, it only establishes him as a winner. In the NBA, players have to go through several hard-fought series in order to reach the finals. And for James, he hadn’t lost a first-round playoff series up until last year when the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns. Hence, to say LeBron isn’t a winner is only unfair to what the Akron Hammer has achieved in his runs to the finals.

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So do his 10 final appearances match up against Jordan’s undefeated record in the NBA finals?

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Who do you think is the better of the two greats? Let us know in the comments below.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,464 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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