Kobe does have the best shot at this point. I'm a Heat fan, but if Kobe and the Lakers somehow defeat the Heat in the Finals (I'm about 99% we'll make it to the Finals) then Kobe has every right to be called the greatest of all time. Never did Jordan slay a monster in the Finals like the Miami Heat's current roster.
After Kobe, Wade has a great shot. Wade is 28, and has one more title than Jordan did at this time. Still, Wade needs a regular season MVP. I think you're exaggerating a bit when you say Wade needs three MVPs and 4 scoring titles. One MVP and one more scoring title should do. As long as Wade keeps putting up stellar numbers and starts racking in the championships (and Finals MVPs) he'll be on the road to the title of Greatest Ever.
Lebron definitely has hope for the title of Greatest Ever, but not as much as Kobe or Wade. Of course, when he's thirty and his contract ends he can either a) take over the Heat from Wade (unlikely) or b) re-sign with another team to lead it to some championships (I'd bet it would be Cleveland). If Lebron does have 5 or 6 rings when he finishes up his tenure in Miami, he'll likely move on to Cleveland and lead them to a championship. When he finally obtains a championship by himself, combined with the ones he's won in Miami and the MVPs and scoring titles he has, he'll have a strong case for greatest ever.
Durant is young and has a lot to improve on before we can predict that he can shadow Jordan.
Rose, at this point, looks like he can be the GOAT of the future after the Kobe-Wade-Lebron era. His game is more complete than Rose. Basically, he can do more, but not at as high of a level. Give a season or two and I bet he can become a better player than Durant.
A week away from the most anticipated NBA season in years, the basketball world stands at a crossroads.
This summer has created a vast amount of hype and attention, as the Miami Heat dramatically altered the balance of power in the East. At the same time the reigning two-time champion Lakers added to an already stellar lineup. Toss in the Celtics' ability to improve a championship-caliber team and we have a "Perfect Storm" of sorts, rapidly gaining strength, as it prepares to unleash itself across the basketball landscape.
David Stern and league executives have to be giddy over the constant spotlight they received this offseason. Unlike any time before in its history, the NBA dominated all sports news leading into the NFL's opening week. The entire summer it seemed as if football and baseball took a back seat to the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony rumors.
This is music to the NBA's ears, as the league has yet to rebound form the Michael Jordan years, in regards to TV ratings and all-time following.
This season will surely garner more worldwide attention than any since Jordan's last. After all you have both a team looking to three-peat as champions, with a leader who seeks to match his Airness' ring total. You then have the new "Super Friends" alliance in South Beach and the return of the veteran, savvy Celtics who added two former All-Star centers.
This leads one to ask the question, "Seven years from now, will someone be considered better than Jordan?"
The thought while preposterous to many is one that deserves merit. After all history has shown us that no matter how great the athlete, within 10 years of their retirement someone else seems to take hold of the "Greatest of All Time" label.
It's about to be eight years since MJ hung up his Air Jordans for a final time and he is still undoubtedly considered to be the "G.O.A.T." Still given time memories fade and new ones are created. In the next couple seasons either Wade, Bryant or James is going to have their own highlight moment such as Jordan's final shot as a Bull. When such a career-defining moment occurs Jordan's fall from atop the perch will commence.
Since the NBA's inception this theory has proven to be true. Bill Russell was the best in the '60s but 10 years after his retirement many felt Kareem Abdul Jabbar or Wilt Chamberlain was better. Then the early '80s made the debate between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird but before they could retire as "G.O.A.T." there was Michael ascending to the top spot. Ten years after Kareem's retirement the debate had become over Bird, Jordan and Magic.
It's natural for this to occur, although it pains many. My grandfather argued until his last breath that Babe Ruth was the best baseball player of all time even though many felt that players who came after were superior. You hold onto your legends but can't prevent others from finding new ones.
Kobe Bryant is the player best poised to accomplish this.
If not for his awful choices/actions between 2002-2004, Kobe would already be gaining much more support for the distinction. Despite Bryant's troubles, it should be remembered that Jordan too had his share of discrepancies.
Therefore time has begun to shade the mistakes Kobe made and it's allowing for his play and on-court accomplishments to shine through. If Kobe can win titles in the next two years there will be fans nationwide, not just in Los Angeles, that will argue on his behalf.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James can also be brought into this equation.
Wade already has one NBA championship ring, a Finals MVP award and a league scoring title under his belt. While often regarded as the third-best player currently in the league Wade has a window in the next six years to change that.
He, more than Kobe or James, seems to mirror Jordan's game. His ability to make eye-dazzling plays at the rim, glide through the air and his on-court competitiveness are all very Jordan-esque. He has even begun to develop a solid mid and long-range shot the way Michael did as he progressed in his career. Lastly, unlike Kobe and James, Wade has managed to steer clear of huge negative fan backlash. This is something MJ seemed to do as well despite all his gambling problems.
For Wade to become the greatest he will need to win at least three league MVPs, four scoring titles and six more championship rings in the next eight years. It's an outside shot but if healthy Wade will have a great chance to get started on this list by leading the NBA in scoring and guiding Miami to a title.
Then there's LeBron James. He is still somewhat of an enigma. Even though we've see him on TV every week since he was 18, no one truly knows what his ceiling can be.
The guy is only 25 years old and has already won two league MVP awards. Jordan also had two league MVP's through seven years but he had one thing LeBron doesn't. That of course being his first championship trophy.
Here's the catch though, Jordan was 28 when he first hoisted that title. Depending on how the next three years unfold James could very well be claiming his third title and fifth league MVP at 28. Despite the fan/media reaction to his "Decision," in time if James shows he is clearly the best player in Miami and manages to win big then his legacy will be completely different than it is now.
No matter how great the shadow which has been cast, the torch must always be passed.
While it may be hard to see now, in time, any one of these three scenarios may become clear. When it does you will see the unthinkable as many will begin to clamor that someone other than Jordan is the "G.O.A.T." When that happens, as hard as it may be, acknowledge it even if you don't embrace it and then argue till your last breath that no one was better than MJ.
Kobe, Lebron, and Wade have all been compared and held to Jordan and the standard he set, but none of them will likely match it. Kobe hasn't and really won't at this point. He hasn't been that close at all. Wade and Lebron have outside shots. There is no shame in that. Jordan is the undisputed GOAT. Wade, Lebron, and Kobe will likely top 5/ top 10
Only 5 players in NBA history have led the league in scoring and won the title in the same season. Jordan is the only one to do it more than twice. Wade won't do it, especially when James will score too.
Nothing you say here will make them better than MJ. Jordan was winning NBA championships, Finals MVPs, league MVPs, scoring titles, steal titles, All-NBA and All-Defensive first team selections at the same time. Let's see if these players you mentioned here can do that MULTIPLE times. James won't win 5 MVPs by the time he's 28, lol. Bryant is old. It's too late for him to catch Jordan. Same thing will soon happen to Wade and James unless they make some kind of miracle, which won't happen since they are on the same team. What Jordan did at their age is something they can't touch.
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