Isiah Thomas Details What Needs to Change For LeBron James to Become the GOAT

LeBron James' claim to be the GOAT of basketball has made him a target of criticism from veteran members of the media.

Isiah Thomas Details What Needs to Change For LeBron James to Become the GOAT

Isiah Thomas believes eventually LeBron James will be labeled as the GOAT (Image via FirstSportz)

LeBron James has used his 22 seasons of excellence to claim his stake in the GOAT race. Many believe he has done a phenomenal job to try and wrestle the mantle from Michael Jordan. But even then, many fans and media members do not think he has done enough.

James has the statistics to argue his position as the GOAT. Then there are the four NBA championships he won with three different teams. But then there are the NBA Finals losses, and the sheer number of games he has played more than Jordan or any other player. These factors have left fans divided.

Some people believe this divided opinion is a byproduct of the narratives members of the media have created to discredit the Los Angeles Lakers superstar. After James notched his record-setting 21st straight All-NBA selection, Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas detailed what needs to change for the 40-year-old to be called the GOAT.

Once we get five or ten years removed from this era, and we look back at what this guy has done, there would be no, no doubt on who the best ever was. It’s hard to do it now in this time frame while he is still playing. And guys who have played against him over the last 20 years, they don’t want to give it to him.

Isiah Thomas said on NBA TV

The two-time NBA champion believes the era has to change before everyone considers him the GOAT. He believes that once the current old media heads retire, fans over time will accept the reality. Then they will accept LeBron James as the GOAT.

Veteran media analyst Michael Wilbon reiterates LeBron James is No. 2 all-time

Isiah Thomas’ belief is that when media veterans who are both staunch critics of LeBron James and supporters of Michael Jordan retire, the narrative will start to change. But until that happens, one of those veteran media members, Michael Wilbon, will not believe James is better than Jordan.

I’m not gonna sit here and say that LeBron James has to be considered better than Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant, that’s garbage. I’m going to proclaim and support, and wave the LeBron James flag for his greatness. But if I say he is less than No. 2, and that is not good enough for you, to hell with you.

Michael Wilbon said on Get Up

The veteran analyst does not believe LeBron James is better than Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, or Kobe Bryant. But despite that, he believes the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is one of the greatest ever. Wilbon made it clear that he would rather go to the grave than acknowledge that James is better than either of them.

But that does not mean he was agreeing with what Michael Jordan’s agent, David Falk‘s rhetoric. He knows Falk well and understands the agent has a penchant for stirring up controversy, which he has done all throughout his career.

Stephen A. Smith believes all the negatives come from LeBron James’ camp

Michael Wilbon made his point on Get Up. Considering the show airs before First Take, his longtime colleague Stephen A. Smith heard what Wilbon had to say. Then, when his show aired, he clarified how the negativity about the GOAT debate comes from LeBron James’ camp.

Veteran media heads believe LeBron James is at most No. 2 all time
Veteran media heads believe LeBron James is at most No. 2 all time (Image via Open Source/X)

I have him No. 2 all-time. The thing that we have to understand that’s important about this conversation is that when we debate the GOAT, the negativity of it comes from LeBron and his camp, nobody else.

Stephen A. Smith said on First Take

Stephen A. Smith reiterated that he and other veteran media members holding the four-time champion No. 2 all-time means he is better than the thousands of athletes who have played in the NBA. Smith believes the problem is that James and his camp believe that is an insult. That is where Smith believes James and his camp have irked the media.

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