Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Why LeBron's 20th year in NBA matters in GOAT debate against Michael Jordan | Draymond Green Show

6 Jan 2023 · 1 min

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In this segment of the Draymond Green Show, Draymond Green and NBA executive Bob Myers discuss LeBron James's extraordinary 38th‑birthday game—47 points and a triple‑double—highlighting how such a performance at age 38 underscores his 20‑year longevity at an elite level. Draymond argues that sustaining this high caliber of play into a player's twentieth season should weigh heavily in the GOAT conversation against Michael Jordan. He also frames the current era, shaped by the dominance of LeBron, Stephen Curry, and the Golden State Warriors, as one of the greatest in basketball history, expressing pride in having played through it. Finally, Draymond lauds LeBron as the premier face of the NBA, both on and off the court, suggesting no future player may surpass his cultural impact.

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I'd be remiss if I did not speak on LeBron's birthday performance the other day. I mean, in Atlanta, 38th birthday. To go out and have the performance he had, 47 points and a triple-double on your 38th birthday? And your body's supposed to be like killing you at 38, not 47 and a triple-double with it.—
and a win on the road.
I still say, and I stand by this, with 20 years in, to still be competing at the same level, obviously it's not the exact same when he was 22 or 26. Or 30, whatever.
But to be competing at such a high level in year 20, that has to count for something. Has to count for something.
I was talking to Bob Myers today, and due to LeBron's dominance, Steph Curry's dominance, and the Warriors' dominance. The era of basketball that we've had the opportunity to play in will go down as one of the all-time greatest eras of basketball. And I am honored to have played and be playing in this era. I know we always talk about eras and everybody, oh, this era is soft and blah, blah, blah. To be playing basketball in this era is Absolutely insane. And again, I take my hat off to LeBron for what he's done, for what he's doing on and off the court. There's never been a better face of the NBA, and I'm not sure there ever will be a better face of the NBA. Absolutely amazing. Salute, my brother. Salute.