No one can escape the NBA GOAT debate. It dominates our social media timelines, is constant in our group chats, and is plastered just about everywhere you look across mainstream NBA media.
No one is immune to the conversation, including former players and household names like Tim Hardaway Sr., who slammed Detroit Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer for choosing LeBron James over Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time.
“When he came to Chicago, he took basketball to another level for the people, the kids, the atmosphere, the fans in Chicago. It was like Chicago was following Michael Jordan everywhere. Michael has done a lot for this game, and like every time you see him, you just bow your head to him,” he told TMZ Sports.
“Stop being jealous. He took it to you Bill, and I know all you didn’t like it. You probably got dunked on five, six, seven times, but you, Bill, and the Bad Boys made Michael Jordan to what he became. It was that fierce competitor that wanted to go out and win each and every night. That is your fault, so don’t be mad, don’t be upset, and don’t be jealous. Michael Jordan is the GOAT. I played against him, I watched him, and I think about him as being the GOAT,” he added.
Laimbeer makes his choice
The Pistons championship center made waves in the NBA community when he openly said that James was a far superior player to Jordan due to his uncanny physical attributes that would allow him to flourish in any era.
Naturally, there was a backlash, but Laimbeer has since been firm in his stance after calling it a day on his NBA career and watching LeBron and the next generation of stars dominate in the Association. His comments highlighted James’ athletic gifts, which have always been a talking point when separating himself from other all-time greats that have come before him.
It is not uncommon for former players to point to LeBron’s dimensions and physical traits as one of the key elements of their discussion. Bill likely valued that aspect of LeBron’s game, considering he was one of the more physical big men in league history.
Hardaway isn’t buying it
Of course, the other side of this coin is the feud between Jordan and Laimbeer throughout their playing careers. They had a very public disdain for each other that may have influenced his GOAT choice.
The Pistons and the Bulls shared arguably the most fierce rivalry we have ever seen in the league, stemming from a genuine hatred for each other as they battled deep into the Eastern Conference playoffs in the late 80s and early 90s.
The play in the series often crossed the line on what is appropriate in professional sports, and Jordan and Laimbeer were at the heart of everything controversial between the two squads.
With this in mind, Hardaway’s comments clearly indicate that he believes their past has blinded Laimbeer’s judgment, and he’s choosing LeBron purely out of spite. This is a plausible theory, but one also has to remember that Hardaway also holds his own personal bias, given he played in the same era as Jordan and respected him as a peer and competitor.
Either way, even with all biases aside, following Hardaway’s comments, he and Laimbeer will not be sharing beers anytime soon, regardless of who the GOAT is.