Recently, someone on Reddit made the statement: “In 10 years, I think many people won’t even think Lebron is [all-time] top 5.”

You see, this is why I don’t engage with NBA discourse, ‘cause at this point ya’ll are just saying words. Listen, in my opinion, the G.O.A.T. debate is silly in any sport, and you can’t compare players of different eras. Nevertheless, if we’re going to do hypotheticals, statements like this are Skip-Bayless-levels of ridiculous. Basically, this person’s argument boils down to two things: 

First, that in 10 years, LeBron will be 15 years removed from having won a championship and that most NBA fans won’t remember his game. With players like Jokic potentially having more MVPs, championships, and better career stats. And secondly, that LeBron’s game isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as Jordan’s or Kobe’s, and as such, won’t be remembered fondly. (I swear, Kobe and MJ stans are something else. LeBron stans are awful too, don’t get me wrong, but good Lord.)

So, does anybody want to tell this person about a man by the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? “The Captain?” The man most NBA fans worth their salt, myself included, consider to be in their all-time top three. Yet, most of us weren’t alive to watch the man play and win his six MVPs and five championships. A player who wasn’t flashy and whose game many could argue was boring to watch and wasn’t “aesthetically pleasing.” How about Tim Duncan? “Mr. Fundamental.” You can’t get more aesthetically boring than that, yet many younger fans consider him deserving of a spot in the latter half of the all-time top 5.   

Time has nothing to do with greatness. Greatness lives on. You talk about Jokic, championships, and stats; by brother or sister in Christ, at this rate, there’s a bigger chance of Jokic retiring well before the 10-year mark to go chill with his horses, and LeBron sharing the court with all three of his kids. We don’t know how many championships or MVPs Joker, or any other player, is going to get. Heck, LeBron might win another championship this year if “Skinny Luka” keeps being skinny. And it’s going to be a long, long time before any player surpasses some of LeBron’s stats. The man’s been super-human, super-consistently for more than two decades. And the media circus has been around him 24/7 for all of that time, and will continue to be so well after he retires. 

Lastly, “not aesthetically pleasing?” Go watch highlights of LeBron’s prime Miami Heat years and tell me his game wasn’t hype. Go watch his 2018 playoff run and tell me that isn’t one of the most complete basketball players to ever exist. Please, NBA fans, young and old, I implore you, just use a few of those brain cells you have left.