GOATs: The clear analytics 🐐 is …
To argue the merits of LeBron James versus Michael Jordan in this sports debate climate is pure folly. There are ways to craft narratives around both as the clear GOAT. James has been elite for much longer than Jordan even played in the NBA. Jordan still has more titles than James.
This is when my eyes glaze over, because there is no normal discourse on this topic anymore. Both camps have deep-seated feelings that will never turn. So why are we doing this?
Well, John Hollinger did it, in a newly published excerpt from The Athletic’s “The Basketball 100” book (which is great), and he did it in pure Hollinger fashion: by using an advanced statistic of his own creation.
Meet GOAT Points, which assigns point values to career accomplishments. The formula is complex, but it essentially combines things like MVP votes, All-Star teams, career win shares, plus-minus and others. Tally those and, voila, you have your GOAT Points total.
Without further ado, the GOAT, according to GOAT Points is … James, by a mile. Here’s the current count:
- LeBron James — 857.3
- Michael Jordan — 750.2
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — 660.1
- Tim Duncan — 504.2
I could write a whole other missive on how the list shakes out from there, because Duncan at No. 4 is extremely interesting, and the point totals narrow throughout the rest of the standings.
See the full list here.
Also, if you’re holiday shopping, “The Basketball 100” is for sale here. Let’s keep moving:
Watch and Listen
📺 NHL: Capitals at Lightning
7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
These are two of the top seven teams in the Eastern Conference as far as the standings are concerned, though not according to our latest Power Rankings. Either way, still a good game. Washington deserves our praise for what has been a shockingly good season thus far.
📺 NBA: Thunder at Warriors
10 p.m. ET on ESPN
For now, these are the Western Conference’s two best teams. Oklahoma City recently got new addition Isaiah Hartenstein back in the lineup, too. The atmosphere will be raucous. Tune in.
Get tickets to games like these here.
🎧 “NBA Daily”: Kevin Durant returns to sink the Lakers, and bad Timberwolves vibes.
