LeBron James is beginning to see the end of his legendary NBA career as the years continue to pass. After two decades of near-complete domination, the clock is ticking. He’ll finish out the upcoming season with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his focus remains on chasing one more NBA championship.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
While LeBron hasn’t given an exact timeline for retirement, others have started weighing in. Former Celtics rival Paul Pierce believes the time has already come.
“He’s been the GOAT for so long. He’s maintained the stats. We appreciate what he brought to the game and how he’s held the mantle since (Michael) Jordan left. Bron is one of them ones. We appreciate him, but I think his time is up. We appreciate what he’s done for the league,” Pierce said.
The ongoing GOAT debate — between LeBron James and Michael Jordan — continues to divide fans and analysts alike. On Tuesday, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green gave his take, appearing to side with LeBron.
“MJ wasn’t winning with Matthew Dellavedova,” Green said, giving reason to why James is the GOAT.
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While there may never be a definitive answer to who’s the greatest, Green’s comment reflects the viewpoint of many modern players. As someone who has competed directly against LeBron, Green’s words carry weight. The four-time NBA champion seems to believe James is more capable of elevating those around him than Jordan was — a factor that, for some, defines true greatness.
