Mike Breen puts a unique twist on the Lakers’ GOAT debate surrounding LeBron James

There’s no doubt that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has had an incredible career so far, making him, to some, the greatest basketball player of all time. Although James had his own Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks in the NFL, he is undoubtedly the best basketball player, but people seem more interested in being the abbreviated GOAT, which led to an interesting take from legendary live commentator Mike Breen.

Breen was interviewed by Chris O’Gorman on the show “Questions for Cancer,” where he was asked the popular question of who is the GOAT in basketball between James and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. Breen did not give a direct answer to the question, but mentioned that he has a good chance of being “the greatest player of his time.”

“‘Comparisons are the thief of joy,’ and I love that phrase, and when you start saying, okay, who’s better? LeBron … You end up criticizing the one you didn’t pick, and we’re criticizing one of the greatest to ever play,” Breen said. “I never understood that. And besides, every era is different. LeBron James is the greatest player of his era, Kobe Bryant was there in his era, Michael Jordan definitely was. Go back to Kareem, go back to Wilt, go back to Bill Russell.”

If there’s one aspect that has remained constant in this conversation, it’s the fact that James and Jordan are the two players that fans argue about who is the undisputed GOAT. The former has a stellar legacy where, on top of all the championships, NBA Finals appearances, scoring records, and more, he just added another accomplishment by winning his third Olympic gold medal.

Mike Breen on LeBron James of the Lakers and other players from other eras

Breen, on the other hand, is reluctant to answer this question because the players in question are James, Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or others.

“The game is so different, it was played differently 20 or 40 years ago, it was coached differently, it was refereed differently,” Breen said on the “Questions for Cancer” show. “To compare eras and say he’s better than this player or this player is the best of all time, I just can’t do that. If you want to tell me you think Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, I can’t disagree with you. If you tell me LeBron, I can’t disagree with you. If you tell me Wilt Chamberlin, I can’t disagree with any of them.”

“They’re all legendary players of a generation, and for me it’s impossible to pick one over the other,” Breen continued. “I always put it this way: Someone asked me, ‘Do you think LeBron James is the greatest of all time? I’ve commented on so many of his games and it’s been an honor to comment on his games?’ I say I can’t say that. What I can say is he’s not inferior to anyone.”

James can add even more to his resume when he turns 40 in December and joins the Lakers in their quest to win another championship alongside Anthony Davis, his son Bronny James and new head coach JJ Redick.