If Isiah Thomas will be the one to pick between LeBron James and Michael Jordan on who best fits the GOAT description, the Detroit Pistons legend will give his vote to the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, hands down. Thomas is convinced that James is "the best and most complete player."
James as the greatest is backed by a record that is beyond reproach. His NBA history wraps around achievements on personal and club levels. The King is a proven winner and his stats will prove he is on top of the list of candidates.
Thomas said James is the GOAT and that's because of the star's accomplishments on and off the court.
"So, what he's done statistically - the numbers don't lie. But also, what he's done OUTSIDE of the playing field, that doesn't lie either," Clutch Points reported the former NBA star as saying.
Thomas proceeded to explain that other sportsmen who were considered as GOAT-worthy were also exemplary outside of their respective games. Muhammad Ali was an inspiring figure in the world of boxing but his influence extended outside of the ring. Ali did his share for the Black community and social impact has a long-lasting effect.
The same goes for the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Julius Erving, and according to Thomas, these men were role models and leaders. They provided the voice for those who were too weak to speak, and the former Detroit playmaker said these qualities count on being the greatest.
Right now, James is mirroring what these NBA greats have done in the past. He is a leading voice in the fight against racial injustice and lends his name to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Lakers star has likewise encouraged his social media followers to get involved in the U.S. elections.
In other words, James is onto things that mattered both for his basketball and society. Thomas said the NBA superstar is doing his part in the underway social change that America is experiencing, and that makes him the GOAT.
It did not come as a surprise that while Thomas nominated NBA greats to be put on the pedestal, he omitted MJ from the list. The former Chicago Bulls superstar had elected to mostly keep a distance from controversial social causes, which likely is Thomas' beef on why Jordan is deserving of the GOAT recognition.
However, Jordan's life after Chicago proved he is trying to keep up. Fadeaway World said the lone basketball billionaire is a benefactor of several charitable efforts. And to be clear, he also championed fights for social equality and his voice is being heard louder in recent years.
These involvements and his successful run with the Chicago Bulls make Jordan a nearly unbeatable GOAT candidate. He has six NBA rings and five MVP trophies, which overwhelmed that of James' NBA achievements so far. This indicates that in terms of numbers and social considerations, MJ has the advantage over his nearest rival.
It's easy to see though that Thomas will never consider Jordan as the NBA GOAT. The two share a history that can be best described as bitter at the strongest level.
