Josh Powell, who won two NBA championships with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers, has sparked intense discussion by naming LeBron James the greatest NBA player of all time. On Scorer’s Society, Powell cited James’ extraordinary career longevity and current performance as the main reasons behind his stance in the ongoing LeBron James NBA GOAT debate.
Josh Powell Highlights LeBron James’ Unmatched Career Longevity
Powell expressed deep admiration for LeBron James’ sustained dominance, emphasizing how rare it is to see a player perform at such a high level over two decades. Reflecting on James’ career, he said,
“I really do feel in my heart of hearts, LeBron James at the end of the day, that’s top dog,”
underscoring the unmatched nature of James’ durability and consistency. Powell pointed out a recent list of players, including Jamal Crawford, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Garnett, who also had lengthy careers, noting that Garnett—with nine points on the list—came closest to matching what James has achieved.
At 40 years old during the 2024-25 NBA season, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in his 22nd season. Powell contrasted these numbers with Vince Carter, the only other player to reach 22 seasons, who averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks in his final campaign, highlighting just how remarkable James’ sustained impact remains.
Longevity as a Defining Factor in the GOAT Conversation
Powell suggested that James’ extraordinary longevity is often underappreciated because of who he is, noting that a similar achievement by Michael Jordan would receive far more widespread acclaim. Reflecting on the challenge of maintaining such a long and consistent career, Powell asked,
“How do you remain that consistent and locked in for that amount of time?”
He added,
I mean, it can be done, but I think there are people that just don’t care.
LeBron James’ dedication to basketball is well-known, with many attributing his unyielding passion and desire for continued success as key factors in his prolonged excellence. Over his career, James has secured four NBA championships, four Finals MVP awards, four regular-season MVPs, along with a scoring title and an assists title. His achievements extend further to include a record 21 All-Star selections and 21 All-NBA team honors, in addition to becoming the league‘s all-time leading scorer. Despite these accolades, James still faces criticism from some fans and former players.
The Complex Debate Between Bryant and James
While many former players place Kobe Bryant above LeBron James, Will Barton articulated that Bryant’s respect comes from taking on a more challenging path, thus earning greater admiration. Powell, however, does not share that belief, though he maintains respect for Bryant and revealed that he once considered Kobe the greatest player, even ahead of Jordan.
Powell’s views shifted as he witnessed James’ remarkable durability and ability to produce at an elite level for such an extended period, prompting him to align more with Team James. When comparing resumes, James currently holds advantages in longevity and cumulative accomplishments over Bryant, whose records include five NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, one MVP, and two scoring titles.
Comparing Kobe Bryant’s Legacy to Michael Jordan’s
Kobe Bryant modeled his game closely after Michael Jordan, though Jordan’s career achievements surpass Bryant’s in multiple categories. Jordan’s championship haul includes six titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year award, and 10 scoring titles, solidifying his case as one of the greatest. NBA analyst Nick Wright has argued that Jordan’s superior career statistics and accolades exclude Bryant from serious consideration in the NBA GOAT debate.