How LeBron James, in his 24th season and first with the 76ers, can pass Michael Jordan in NBA GOAT debate — SkimNews
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- LeBron James, 41, opens his 24th NBA season with the 76ers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the reigning champion Knicks, nearly 23 years to the day after his first regular-season game in Sacramento.
- James holds the NBA's all-time lead in points and games played and is the only member of the 40,000-point/10,000-rebound/10,000-assist club, with four titles across three franchises, four MVPs, and eight straight Finals appearances.
- James finished sixth in MVP voting last season at age 40 and led the Lakers to a playoff series win after injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves; CBS Sports ranks him No. 19 in its top 100 players entering the new season.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the only comparable longevity case, having won his final two titles as a quality starting center at ages 40 and 41.
- James told 76ers media day, 'I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round,' signaling his title-or-bust stance in Philadelphia.
- The columnist argues that a fifth championship with a fourth franchise — the 76ers haven't won a title since 1983 — would make James' GOAT case as strong as it's ever been, even if he remained one ring behind Jordan.
Why it matters: LeBron's Philadelphia chapter is a referendum on the GOAT debate itself: at 41, a fifth title with a fourth franchise (the 76ers, champions last in 1983) would be the only remaining move to surpass Jordan's six rings in cultural weight, and James has publicly framed this season as nothing less than a title run.
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