The NBA’s GOAT debate has now come down to Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and comedian Aries Spears has made it crystal clear over the years which side he is on. Spears is a huge Jordan fan and has turned into one of James’ fiercest critics.
So, when news broke that James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers and that the Golden State Warriors are a potential landing spot, Spears went off on his supporters on Instagram.
“If what they say about LeBron James is true,” Spears said. “And he’s in fact leaving the Lakers, and he decides to go elsewhere, and they’re hinting at the Warriors to form what will be yet another super team alongside Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and they hinted at Anthony Davis. If he gets what will most likely be his last ring, which will be five, if he even gets that, and if he doesn’t, that’s four. His legacy is cemented in four. But even if he got five, he’s still just one shy of tying Jordan.
“You LeBron fans honestly sit here with a straight face and tell me he’s better than MJ?” Spears continued. “You play the game to win, and Michael’s the ultimate winner. And don’t hit me with that bulls*** about if it’s about rings, Bill Russell got 11, Robert Horry got seven. Michael, we talking about GOAT gumbo, totality. Mike checks boxes that Robert Horry damn sure didn’t check, and Bill Russell didn’t check.”
Spears said Jordan accomplished more in far less time. He played 15 seasons while James just finished his 23rd.
In that time, Jordan won six titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, one DPOY, and 10 scoring titles. He led the Chicago Bulls to three-peats from 1991 to 1993 and then from 1996 to 1998.
As for James, he has won four titles, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, one scoring title, and one assists title. The 41-year-old is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and has comprehensively beaten Jordan in terms of longevity, but Spears doesn’t care about that.
“More MVPs, Finals MVPs, regular-season MVPs, more scoring titles,” Spears said. “We could go on and on and on. But the bottom line is, if LeBron retires at 4-6, MJ’s 6-0. Totality. You guys need to stop and own up to it now. And Michael didn’t jump ship and form super teams. He stayed with one franchise his whole career.
“And miss me with the Wizards,” Spears continued. “He was scratching an itch. He wasn’t gonna win no championship, and he knew that. MJ is the GOAT. You LeBron fans, stop being f***ing delusional.”
It’s unlikely Spears’ fiery rant is going to change anyone’s mind. You’d imagine he’s been getting incredibly frustrated by how a growing number are starting to believe James is the greatest.
Jordan is still the more popular pick, though, with the fact that he won more titles and never lost in the NBA Finals often being brought up. Spears did that here, too. In the past, he has also downplayed James’ four championships.
“One of them in the Bubble,” Spears said. “The other one, Ray Allen, saved you. Some could argue that Kyrie [Irving] saved you. Who saved Jordan?”
Spears will poke holes wherever he can when it comes to James. You ultimately need teammates to win championships. Just because Ray Allen and Kyrie Irving hit clutch shots in the NBA Finals in 2013 and 2016, respectively, doesn’t make James’ accomplishment any less impressive. His critics will always bring it up, though, and that’s a shame. We should appreciate James while he’s still around instead of trying to tear him down.
