Carmelo Anthony has made a strong statement about people holding onto championships as the defining factor while talking about players that are GOAT level. While discussing if Kevin Durant is a GOAT-level player, Anthony took a snipe at 'ring culture' by saying that Bill Russell should be their GOAT over Michael Jordan.
"What is the criteria to being the GOAT? Is it six rings? If that's the case, we are talking about ring culture, Michael Jordan is not the GOAT. Bill Russell is the GOAT if we are talking about ring culture."
Carmelo brought this point up after endless conversations about Durant as a GOAT-level player. Anthony, among many other NBA players, thinks Durant deserves to be discussed as a GOAT for how he's influenced the modern game. Anthony spent a big chunk of his prime competing against Durant, who won multiple scoring titles over Carmelo.
Ring culture has poisoned many conversations around great players, as many superstars haven't been appreciated correctly because of their lack of rings. The modern era is full of players like that, with influential players such as Paul George, James Harden, and Chris Paul still looking to win their first title.
Meanwhile, winning more rings seems to be a necessity for LeBron James to finally dethrone Michael Jordan's status as the GOAT of basketball, despite James outperforming Jordan's NBA career through his longevity.
Carmelo Anthony Opens Up On The GOAT Debate Between Michael Jordan And LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James have been friends since the pair were in high school, so Melo has seen LeBron from the start of his career to the excellent stage he is at as a 39-year-old. He got real on the GOAT debate, discussing how Michael Jordan set a benchmark of excellence that inspired LeBron to continue achieving great things in basketball to reach the same level.
(Starts at 17:17)
"Mike did it already. He's the target... But then you have a young man who comes and understands that 'That's what I am coming for.' In the same way, MJ was talking about coming for 11 rings. Bron sees that. He's inspired by that, he's motivated by like, that's my idol. He set the tone for greatness and I want to be like the person I followed, which is greatness, so I am going on a journey to be great."
He said that LeBron has put together a body of work where he can finally be compared to Jordan as a realistic contender for the GOAT. Many people are still waiting for LeBron to match Jordan's ring count, but even if that doesn't happen, LeBron has arguably the strongest case outside of MJ for the crown of GOAT.
When it comes to players like Kevin Durant, they're in the conversation as GOATs of their era. But the question of the GOAT of basketball has always been narrowed down to three names, who are MJ, LeBron, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. We can appreciate Durant's greatness and value him as a top-ten player, but it's hard to make an objective case for him over the other two, even if he wins a title in Phoenix.
More must-reads: