In the 79-year history of the NBA, who is the greatest player to ever set foot on the court?
It is a question that has gripped basketball fans for years on end. Anyone who even slightly cares about the sport can get heated over who they think deserves to be called the greatest of all time, or the “GOAT.” And DePaul students are no exception.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many students of the Chicago-based university favor Michael Jordan in the debate. But for some, like junior film student Charlie Shroyer, the question has less to do with athletic ability than it does with cultural presence.
For Jordan, this includes his status in the 1990s as one of the world’s biggest celebrities and his signature shoe brand. At the same time, Lebron James’ cultural resume includes his domination of today’s sports world and his lifetime deal with Nike.
“I feel inclined to say LeBron, but I just think Michael just had more impact,” said Shroyer, who is from California. “I think he had the biggest impact on the sport and his logo is literally everywhere.”
In comparing Jordan’s cultural achievements to James’, Shroyer noted how both players have starred in “Space Jam” movies, with Jordan in the first 1996 film and James in the 2021 remake.
Though Shroyer based his answer on Jordan’s cultural accolades, senior sports communications major Owen Kelly kept it strictly on the court, focusing on Jordan’s athletic awards and achievements.
“He won the national championship at North Carolina, so all he knew was winning in college,” he said. Along with winning six NBA championships, Kelly said this is a “pretty clean resume.”
Like many with opinions in this debate, Kelly believes the question comes down primarily to Jordan’s six NBA titles to James’ four.
“If he were to get that fifth, especially in the year that he’s in right now, I think you could argue it so much better. But as long as he has four, I think MJ’s got it,” he said.
Though Jordan seems to have the edge among DePaul students, James is certainly not without supporters on campus. Freshman accounting major Luke Altman cited longevity as the reason for his belief in James’ superiority.
“He’s been the best for the longest amount of time,” he said. “Michael Jordan didn’t play long enough — only a few years. Longevity is important.”
Altman also considered that James won championships with multiple different teams and teammates.
“Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. LeBron’s done it with Cleveland, with Miami, with LA,” he said. “Maybe Michael had the better peak, but he’s been … better for longer, and that’s more important.”
Junior film major Erin Hartnett said, “I think him winning championships on multiple teams compared to Jordan speaks volumes of how good his talent is because he was able to bring it to so many different schemes, so many different teams.”
Hartnett also alluded that answers to the question are influenced by age.
“I talk to my parents a lot about this. They’re just like, ‘You don’t know Jordan because you weren’t alive,’” she said. “I think just looking at what I know, I’ve got to say it’s LeBron.”
Plenty of students have strong opinions on who the greatest player of all time may be, but the case is by no means closed. The debate is sure to go on just as it has in homes, bars and social media threads across the country. Just as one viewpoint seems to take the upper hand, another is there to claim it right back.
Shroyer put it succinctly.
“I think this is a debate that’s going to be had forever,” he said.
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