Democracy Dies in Darkness
Opinion

LeBron or Jordan for basketball GOAT? We’re forgetting someone.

Anointing the greatest of all time starts with the definition of ‘great.’ Enter Bill Russell.

9 min
(Illustration by Anthony Gerace/For The Washington Post; Getty Images)
9 min
By

Kevin Merida is a contributing essayist for The Post. He is the former executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, a former senior vice president of ESPN and a former managing editor of The Post.

The spiciest ongoing debate in professional sports, I’d argue, is whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the greatest basketball player to ever live.

What readers are saying

The comments largely support Bill Russell's case as the basketball GOAT, emphasizing his 11 NBA championships, defensive prowess, and leadership. Many highlight his impact on and off the court, particularly his role as a civil rights leader. While some argue for other players... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
By
Kevin Merida is an independent journalist, storyteller and media executive. He is the former executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, a former senior vice president at ESPN, and a former managing editor of The Washington Post.
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