Photo by Howard Chai on Unsplash
Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan (depicted above) is Truth from the Youth Editor Aaron McKrell’s choice for the greatest NBA player of all time. Staff writer De’Rico Spires, on the other hand, picked Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Edwards.
Debating basketball’s greatest of all time
By De’Rico Spires and Aaron McKrell
Staff Writer and Editor
Editor’s note: This is a column in which two big-time sports fans, 13-year-old De’Rico Spires and 33-year-old Aaron McKrell, debate some of the hottest sports topics of the day.
De’Rico Spires: Basketball was not better in the ‘90s because some of the people in the NBA were and are unknown.
Aaron McKrell: Coming in hot, huh? So, you’re saying that the competition wasn’t what it is today?
DS: No, because we have better NBA players, and coming out of the ‘90s, players were not that athletic.
AM: So let me guess: LeBron is your GOAT over Jordan?
DS: No, LeBron’s trash. My GOAT has to either be Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Edwards.
AM: So, I like that you at least said Giannis instead of someone like Ja Morant. He’s definitely the best player of his generation, no matter what some writers will have you believe about Nikola Jokic. And there’s actually been some comparisons of Anthony Edwards and Michael Jordan. So, why did you choose those players specifically?
DS: Because in our generation Michael Jordan maybe wouldn’t compete with our players. Some of our players are more athletic and taller.
AM: There’s definitely some of the most athletic players in the history of the game playing right now. KD. LeBron. Giannis like you said. But have you ever seen clips of MJ going to the rim? It almost looked like that man was flying. I don’t think he’d have an issue with athleticism.
DS: All Michael likes to do is do flashy dunks. I never saw him actually be guarded by players that put in work.
AM: Hmm. So you look at someone like Jeff Hornacek and say, he was no competition for Mike. I get it. But overall I think defense was better back then. It’s a free ride to the rim these days.
DS: Our generation has better offense and defense than back then. Our offense has good 3-point shooters such as Stephen Curry, KD, Kyrie Irving and others.
AM: That’s one area where I have to agree. Steph and the Warriors brought in the era of the three like it’s never been done before. But I think Michael would have adapted his game to this era.
DS: It is hard to compare eras.
AM: Yeah, I agree with you. But you know who gets respect from both generations? Allen Iverson. His heart was XXL, his crossover was killer and he dragged an above-average team to the Finals to take a game from Shaq and Kobe.
DS: Allen Iverson has great basketball skills such as dribbling and shooting. The way he creates space to shoot the ball is different from other players. He’s a team player and makes sure his teammates have the ball, too.
AM: Yeah, he averaged 6.2 assists per game in his career – as a shooting guard. Aaron McKie definitely thought he was a great teammate, and Chris Webber said Iverson was the best player he’d ever played with. As long as we can agree on the greatness of A.I., I’m good with that.
DS: Okay, I agree.
AM: ‘Til next time.