LeBron James Reveals Polarizing Thoughts on NBA Legacy

With LeBron James potentially about to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers star has been getting even more attention than usual. Many have used James' chase as an opportunity to reflect on his legacy, including James himself.

The King had some thoughts on how his career should be viewed, and it's likely to rub some fans the wrong way.

LeBron James GOAT Debate

Channeling his inner-Muhammad Ali, James declared himself the greatest basketball player of all-time.

While it may sound arrogant or narcissistic, James certainly has a case for being the NBA's GOAT. In addition to his imminent scoring record, he also boasts four championships rings, four MVP awards and a whopping 19 All-Star selections, plus countless other awards and accolades. He's still going strong at age 38, too, so he's far from finished.

That said, many people are sure to disagree with James. Some prefer Bill Russell, who won an NBA-record 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, including eight in a row. Others will say Wilt Chamberlain was better because of how he dominated the game, especially in terms of points and rebounds.

And then there's Michael Jordan, who James has been compared to constantly throughout his career. While James has played longer and has better statistics, Jordan was a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals with a pair of three-peats. James, on the other hand, has lost six championship series, and some of his wins came under dubious circumstances such as lockouts and Covid.

NBA fans can debate this argument forever, but at least we know where James stands.