MJ fans love to say you have to win 6 titles to be the GOAT.
It’s a bad argument, for obvious reasons, and it’s NEVER been the criteria before.
What’s funny is MJ started getting referred to as the “GOAT” in…1989.
Want proof?
Prior to the 89 playoffs, most of the commentary on Jordan was that he may have had the best talent ever, but he wasn’t the best player yet.
Notice how, here in January, 1989, Roy Johnson actually calls out Jordan for being a bad teammate.
“Certainly not the best teammate.”
In the 89 playoffs, it all changed.
Bruce Jenkins, a well-known Bay Area columnist, mentioned in a June 1, 1989 article that the discussion of whether Jordan was the GOAT was happening in press rooms.
It makes sense, as there had been a flurry of articles in the prior 2 weeks.
The criticism of “LeBronze” for the 2004 Olympics is DUMB.
D-U-M-B.
1) Lebron didn’t play. He played 3 MINUTES in the semifinal loss. 2) Overall, he shot 19-32, 65% TS% 3) Brown was criticized for NOT playing him. Stern even called Brown over it
1/4
The commentary at the time was all positive about his play, and positive about his WANTING to play.
His enthusiasm and energy wasn’t rewarded by Brown, who always hated young players.
Keep in mind that 7 of the original 9 players selected in July 2003 didn’t bother to show up.
To give everyone an idea of how much unfair criticism Lebron takes, the phrase “LeBronze” was coined by a writers THAT DAY.
It wasn’t coined by haters. It was coined by the MEDIA.