During a recent episode of Mark Jackson’s “Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast, Stephon Marbury shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate about the Greatest of All Time in basketball.
Marbury made it clear that he ranks Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant above LeBron James in the GOAT race. The former All-Star began by naming Michael Jordan as his GOAT, citing Jordan’s unparalleled dominance and impact on the game. He then explained why he believes Kobe Bryant is second only to Jordan, despite acknowledging LeBron’s incredible talent. Marbury stated,
“When I look at Kobe, I’m like, ‘How is LeBron better than Jordan, when he isn’t better than Kobe?’ I’m just trying to figure that out.”
Marbury emphasized the differences in playing styles between LeBron and Kobe. He pointed out that Kobe’s offensive game was marked by sophistication and finesse, while LeBron relies more on his physical strength and athleticism. Marbury added,
“Kobe is the closest to Mike. He copied Jordan’s basketball moves and even mimicked his mannerisms.”
Another key point Marbury made was the early achievements of Jordan and Kobe. He noted that both players reached greatness early in their careers, which he believes is a crucial factor in the GOAT debate. Marbury said,
“Jordan and Kobe, despite not having the same physical advantages as LeBron, still achieved greatness early in their careers.”
While Marbury ranks Jordan and Kobe above LeBron, he did acknowledge LeBron’s all-around talent and extended career. He stated,
“LeBron James is the best all-around player that this game will ever see. It won’t be nobody like him. But he will never be better than Michael Jordan.”
