THE BATTLE FOR G.O.A.T: “LeBron James and Michael Jordan Were Great, But OSCAR ROBERTSON Would’ve Owned Them Both, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Explosive Take on the Real GOAT”
Kareem’s Explosive Take on the GOAT Debate
LeBron James and Michael Jordan are “awesome,” but…
In an appearance on ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd (circa 2013), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar emphatically stated:
> “LeBron is awesome, MJ was awesome — but I think Oscar Robertson would have kicked them both in the behind. Absolutely. Oscar was awesome. He had brains … he had all the skills. … He could rebound and box out guys four and six inches taller than him. He was ruggedly built, he had fluid, quickness, and just understood the game. No flair, he just got the job done every night. Who’s going to average double figures in points, assists, and rebounds?”
Why Oscar Robertson?
Robertson was the first NBA player to average a triple-double over a full season (1961–62) .
He consistently posted career averages of 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists—surpassing Jordan and in some categories on par with LeBron .
At 6′5″, Robertson dominated physically, rebounded at an elite level (including over taller opponents), and “understood the game” in a way that Kareem found unmatched .
Kareem further emphasized that many fans who champion Jordan simply hadn’t “seen Oscar Robertson play,” especially in televised and enduring prime periods .
More on Robertson vs. Other Legends
In a September 2023 interview on PIX11 News, Kareem picked Oscar Robertson as the greatest point guard—superseding Magic Johnson and Stephen Curry, noting his versatility and “3-point range” had the era featured the shot .
But, a clarification followed:
Kareem later clarified that while Robertson was a “complete player” deserving of immense respect, Magic Johnson remained his “best teammate ever,” with whom he won five championships. Hence, Magic holds the “priority” in his personal ranking—though he still credits Robertson highly .
Summary Table: Kareem’s Views
Perspective Kareem’s Take
GOAT Debate (Jordan vs LeBron) Prefers Oscar Robertson over both
Reasons All-around brilliance, toughness, basketball IQ, triple-double ability
Point Guard Hierarchy Oscar Robertson ranked ahead of Magic Johnson and Stephen Curry
Teammate Sentiment Magic remains Karim’s “best teammate ever” due to their shared success
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Final Thoughts
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s perspective shakes up the conventional GOAT conversation. He respects LeBron and Jordan—but elevates Oscar Robertson thanks to his complete, unflashy dominance and historic impact on the game. And while Robertson earns Kareem’s admiration as perhaps the most complete guard of all time, Magic Johnson retains a special status for their shared triumphs and rapport.
