Lakers legend scolds 76ers' LeBron James GOAT case over team-hopping throughout career

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Lakers legend scolds 76ers' LeBron James GOAT case over team-hopping throughout career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The entire NBA offseason has been centered around LeBron James and the free-agency decision he was going to make. Heading into his 24th NBA season at 41 years old, James had the entire league waiting on his decision this summer.

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He took his time before making a choice, creating more than a month of uncertainty throughout free agency. The league was essentially at a standstill until James finally made his decision.

“Top remaining free agents are now all waiting to make their choices until after LeBron James, who has created a league-wide domino effect. Wherever LeBron signs will force interested teams into enacting their alternative scenarios. Free agency is at a halt until LeBron decides,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.

When it was all said and done, James finally chose the organization where he would spend the latest chapter of his career. He selected the Philadelphia 76ers over the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.

“LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for his final run at another NBA championship, he announced Friday," ESPN's Dave McMenamin wrote. "James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania."

Throughout his career, James has consistently been at the center of the GOAT debate. Lakers legend Byron Scott recently explained why he believes James does not carry the same weight as Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, pointing to the fact that neither player moved between teams nearly as often.

“Most of us judge LeBron based on the guys that you just mentioned and I’ll throw one more guy in there Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and he got traded from Milwaukee to LA, right? So two teams in his whole career. MJ two teams basically, you know, in his whole career. So when you’re judging LeBron, you’re looking at the greatest players of all time and what they did at those organizations, they basically never left,” Scott said.

It is an interesting perspective and another argument that some can use against James in the GOAT debate. Scott put his own spin on the discussion, essentially suggesting that James had more control over where he played and, in turn, where he would have the best opportunity to win.

The four-time NBA champion has often been criticized for choosing situations that gave him the best chance to win championships. This is just one of the many arguments that will continue to fuel the Jordan vs. James GOAT debate for years to come.

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