Skip to main content

Determining the "Greatest of all Time" (GOAT) in basketball is a tricky endeavor that sparks passionate debates among fans. Almost everyone holds a distinct and unwavering view on this matter, which further adds to the discussions. Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry was recently placed in the hot seat when a conversation with Willie Geist of Today touched on who the GOAT is.

Multiple GOATs

The two-time league MVP said he believes that in a league with such rich history, there may be multiple GOATs. This is because there had been various eras that featured stars that thrived with the style of play that was prevalent at that time.

"I ascribe to the mindset that there are multiple GOATs," Curry said. "And I hate that, it's not a cop-out answer, but it's so hard to compare eras."

Never-ending barbershop argument

Curry added that while the two most popular answers that come up when discussing basketball's GOAT are Michael Jordan and LeBron James, it's tough to compare eras and styles of play. He hopes that the discussion can remain an enjoyable barbershop argument, with no one ever getting a clear-cut answer.

"And getting into that conversation of 'oh if you put Michael in this era or if you put LeBron in that era,' it's kind of unfair. It's a great barbershop debate, and it's something that'll never stop until the end of time," Curry added.

Jordan, though, enjoys universal recognition for his six NBA championships and five MVP awards with the Chicago Bulls. James, on the other hand, has four rings but is steadily climbing up the all-time list of accomplishments. With James still dominating the league at age 38, some may argue that he still has a chance to catch or even surpass Jordan's individual achievements.