Former NBA Player Explains Why Even a 4th Ring Won’t Put LeBron James Over Michael Jordan in the GOAT Debate

Published 09/30/2020, 5:55 PM EDT

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are in a position to win an NBA championship this year. They have reached the NBA Finals and are only four wins away from being the NBA champions.

If the Lakers do lift the trophy this year, it would be LeBron’s 4th NBA ring in his 17-year long career. This possibility has reignited James’ comparison with Michael Jordan for the GOAT status.

Jordan, who has never lost in the NBA finals, is the GOAT for the majority of the crowd. Moreover, NBA analyst Jalen Rose is among those who regard MJ as the GOAT. When asked about LBJ’s chances of beating out MJ in the GOAT debate if he wins his 4th ring, Rose responded:

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“I am gonna say he still got a few hurdles to jump over and that’s how this game works… He [Michael Jordan] had two separate three-peats! How many three-peats has LeBron James had? … Bill Russell has 11 championships in 13 seasons! I can’t dismiss that!

“While LeBron James deserves for his era and everybody wants their era to be the best… When Michael Jordan lost it was to the showtime Lakers, it was to Larry Legend and the Boston Celtics, it was to the bad-boys Pistons… Other than that when Michael Jordan was in uniform, his team won the championship. And he won the finals MVP, that’s elite level basketball and achievement.

“The bottom line is – Both of these players are so very amazing and have achieved so much, that’s why it’s a Mount Rushmore. Because sometimes you just can’t pick one… But Michael Jordan in my opinion has clearly distinguished himself as the all-time GOAT.”

A fourth ring does NOT make LeBron the 🐐 says @JalenRose.
"[Jordan] had two separate three-peats! How many three-peats has LeBron James had? … Bill Russell has 11 championships in 13 seasons! I can't dismiss that!" pic.twitter.com/5MMQb5CBQm
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 30, 2020

Jalen made a compelling argument for both sides and it’s is true both these superstars are great in their own way.

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Can LeBron James win his 4th ring in his career?

For the first time in many years, LeBron James is the favorite to walk out as the winner of the NBA finals. The Lakers will battle the Miami Heat for a chance to win their #17 NBA banner.

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LBJ is leading the pack as a veteran leader for the team. But, he is still getting the job done on the scoring end. He is averaging 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists even at the age of 35.

James’ production has been one of the major reasons for the Lakers’ success this postseason. But can they carry it to the NBA Finals? We will find out on Tuesday night.

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Written by:

Aikansh Chaudhary is an NBA columnist for Essentially Sports. Previously, he helped rank various websites using the latest SEO techniques, and wrote over 2000 articles during his stint as a freelance writer. A die hard Lakers fan, Aikansh will forever uphold LeBron James as the GOAT.

Former NBA Player Explains Why Even a 4th Ring Won’t Put LeBron James Over Michael Jordan in the GOAT Debate

Can LeBron James win his 4th ring in his career?

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