Towns says that based on pure basketball talent alone, James is the greatest of all time.
The NBA’s GOAT debate continues to be a hot topic among NBA podcasts and shows. While the majority still think that Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time, the number of NBA players who believe that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is the GOAT continues to increase.
You can add the New York Knicks’ newly-acquired All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns to the list. During his recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, the 28-year-old top pick of the 2015 NBA Draft picked King James as the best basketball player ever.
“I’m always going to speak with what I see with my own two eyes. I can’t speak for everything. I wouldn’t be able to,” declared Towns. “But man, that man Bron was different. That man Bron is something special.”
KAT never saw Mike play
Born on November 15, 1995, Karl was not old enough to watch Jordan win six championships during the 1990s. By the time Towns started following the NBA, LeBron was already dominating as the best player in the league.
Not only has KAT watched Bron in the NBA, but King James’ insane longevity has allowed Karl to play against his GOAT. Entering the 2024-25 season, Towns and LBJ have played in a total of 17 games. In those contests, LeBron averaged 24.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while owning an 11-6 head-to-head record.
“I’ve been in the league for ten years now, and I’ve seen Bron in so many different stages,” added Towns. “I feel Bron is the best player we’ve ever seen, talent-wise. You could get caught up in chips and rings and all that stuff, that’s up to people to debate. But when you just talk about pure talent, intangibles, size, like to be the best basketball player you have to have all these different things. And look at how he’s done it with all the scrutiny, the criticism, and everything. Bron is the best basketball player we’ve seen, talent-wise, just straight off the rip, he’s the best player.”
LeBron is GOAT, too, in Cade’s eyes
Another young NBA star who considers LeBron James as his GOAT is Detroit Pistons guard and 2020 No.1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. Like KAT, Cade qualified his answer by saying his choice is influenced by what he witnessed growing up.
“It’s hard for me to put somebody ahead of LeBron ’cause LeBron is the best player I’ve seen with my eyes,” Cunningham said. “Trust me, I’ve seen all the Michael Jordan stuff, dude is different. I can’t argue with the fact that you think he is the GOAT, but in my eyes, I say LeBron.”
A couple of years ago, Dwyane Wade said that the younger generation would forget about Jordan like his generation forgot Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Towns and Cunningham were born five years apart, but both belong to the younger generation that Wade was talking about. Their choice of LeBron is proof that Dwyane may be correct.