Mike Breen gets philosophical as he refuses to call LeBron the GOAT: ‘You wind up having to criticize the one that you don’t pick’

Legendary sports commentator Mike Breen has seen enough basketball in his life to be a qualified voice in the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) debate, but fans aren’t going to get a definitive answer out of him when it comes to the topic.

The way Breen sees it, there can be multiple correct answers to the G.O.A.T. question. He shared his perspective during a recent interview, and while he said that he refuses to get involved in the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate, he still made some fascinating comments.

Breen explained that he likes to keep a certain phrase in mind when he thinks about the G.O.A.T. debate: that “comparison is the thief of joy.”

“I love that phrase,” Breen said. “And when you start saying, ‘Okay, who’s better?’ … You wind up having to criticize the one that you don’t pick. And we’re criticizing one of the greatest to ever play the game? I never understood that.

“And the other thing is, every era is different. LeBron James is the greatest player of his era. Kobe Bryant, you could say in his era, was there. Michael Jordan, certainly. Go back to Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]. Go back to Wilt [Chamberlain]. Go back to Bill Russell.

“The game is so different. It was played differently 20 years ago, 40 years ago. It was coached differently. It was officiated differently. To compare eras and say, ‘He’s better than that player,’ or, ‘That player is the best of all time,’ I can’t do it. I can’t definitively.

“If you want to tell me that you think Michael Jordan’s the greatest of all time, I’m gonna say, ‘Can’t disagree with you.’ If you tell me LeBron is, can’t disagree with you. If you say Wilt Chamberlain, I can’t disagree with any of them. They are all legendary, generational-type players that it’s, to me, it’s impossible to pick one over another.

“The way I always phrase it is, if somebody asks me, ‘Do you think LeBron James’ — because I’ve called so many of his games, and it’s been an honor to call his games — ‘Do you think he’s the greatest of all time?’ I say, ‘I can’t say that. What I can say is he takes a backseat to no one.'”

Lots of names have been thrown into the G.O.A.T. debate over the years, but the conversation typically boils down to James and Jordan.

Both players will be remembered as two of the most dominant athletes in sports history, and their accomplishments shouldn’t be diminished. Unfortunately, as Breen indicated, the nature of the G.O.A.T. conversation does often result in some fans trying to reduce the excellence of an all-time great, whether it be James, Jordan or a different contender in the debate.

James, a 20-time All-Star, four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion, is still adding to his resume as he enters his 22nd NBA season. He still has time to strengthen his case against Jordan, a 14-time All-Star, five-time MVP and six-time NBA champion.

But it remains to be seen if James has the help he needs on the Los Angeles Lakers to compete for another championship. L.A. has had a quiet offseason and will likely enter the new campaign with a roster that looks similar to last season’s.

Meanwhile, Jordan, a Chicago Bulls legend, will certainly be keeping an eye on the new NBA season as he enjoys retirement.