Penny Hardaway Weighs In on the NBA GOAT Debate

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Dec 20, 2024 5:44 PM ET

Former Magic star Penny Hardaway offered a nuanced take on basketball's eternal GOAT debate during a recent appearance on the Draymond Green Show, suggesting that Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James each deserve top billing for different reasons.

"LeBron got the numbers," Hardaway explained, referencing James's standing as the NBA's all-time scoring leader (39,000+ points) and his unmatched combination of 39,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. "Then you got MJ - this innate way of just hitting 50 whenever he wanted... and winning championships - going undefeated in finals."

Jordan's perfect 6-0 Finals record remains unmatched among modern superstars, complemented by six Finals MVPs, five regular season MVPs, and 10 scoring titles. Jordan's defensive prowess (nine-time All-Defense First Team) is what stands out most to Hardaway: "A guy who was first team all defense - I mean come on man, that's the GOAT to me."

Bryant, who modeled his game after Jordan, earned his own place in the conversation through what Hardaway called a "fearless warrior" mentality. His resume backs up that description: five championships, two Finals MVPs, 18 All-Star selections, and 12 All-Defense selections while finishing as the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history.

"It's like you've got to have them all 1A, 1A, 1A, but in their own different ways," Hardaway concluded, acknowledging how each legend dominated differently - Jordan through unmatched competitive fire, Kobe through technical mastery, and LeBron through unprecedented longevity and versatility.

Given his firsthand experience facing Jordan's Bulls during the mid-90s Magic-Bulls rivalry, Hardaway's perspective carries real weight. Whether ranking Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron at the top, Hardaway's perspective highlights how the GOAT debate transcends simple statistics or championship counts. Each legend carved their own unique path to greatness, making the conversation less about who's better and more about appreciating their distinct impacts on basketball history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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