When it comes to basketball’s greatest players, the debate always seems to circle back to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Fans have been arguing for years about who the GOAT is, but not everyone thinks LeBron deserves to be in that conversation. One of those critics? Former All-Star and two-time All-NBA Team member Stephon Marbury hasn’t been shy about sharing his thoughts.

Marbury, who faced all three legends during his career, believes LeBron is an incredible player but doesn’t belong in the same breath as Jordan or Kobe. “I’ve never seen Jordan or Kobe shoot an airball at the free-throw line,” Marbury said, pointing out what he sees as a lack of clutch moments from LeBron. Still, he admitted that LeBron is “the most all-around basketball player to ever touch the basketball.”

And then there’s the Olympics. During the 2024 Paris Games, LeBron led Team USA to gold and picked up the MVP award after averaging 14.2 points, 8.5 assists, and 6.8 rebounds. But Marbury wasn’t impressed. He argued that Steph Curry, who averaged 14.8 points and hit clutch threes in the gold medal game, deserved the MVP instead. “Stephen Curry should’ve gotten the MVP. Period,” Marbury said. “When you give [LeBron] what he doesn’t deserve, it takes away from the honor.”

Marbury’s remarks have drawn some heat, but he’s sticking to his guns. “They think I’m a LeBron James hater. I love LeBron as a player,” he said, stressing that his opinions come from a place of fairness, not personal dislike.

LeBron James’ Legacy And His Role As A Dad

While Marbury is harsh on LeBron’s GOAT credentials, he’s all praise when it comes to LeBron as a father and mentor to his son, Bronny. “Bronny has something that none of the people that are playing basketball has,” Marbury said, admiring the unique support system LeBron has built for his son. He believes Bronny has everything he needs to succeed in the NBA as long as his love for the game is real.

Let’s not forget that LeBron is still dominating in his 22nd NBA season. At 39, he’s putting up 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. Just recently, he dropped 39 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, and a couple of steals and blocks in a single game. Love him or hate him, that’s unreal for a guy his age.

The debate over the greatest of all time rages on, with Charles Barkley dismissing it as “lazy journalism” designed to provoke arguments. While Stephon Marbury insists LeBron doesn’t match Jordan or Kobe in clutch moments, it doesn’t diminish LeBron’s incredible legacy. All three have transformed the game, but for Marbury, being the GOAT is about delivering greatness when the stakes are highest.