Last month, LeBron James made waves across the NBA by naming four players to his all-time NBA Mount Rushmore: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson. He also said that when his career is over, he’s going to be on that list.
Six-time NBA MVP and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took exception to his omission from James’ list in a new interview with the Los Angeles Daily News, saying the Miami Heat superstar needs a stronger perspective on the game’s history.
At first glance, it may seem like Kareem is simply bitter at not making the cut on James’ list, but he actually provides a nuanced, well-thought-out response to LeBron that makes sure to give him credit and acknowledging that not everybody can make everybody’s list.
“As long as I’m in the discussion, that’s fine with me,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “I don’t expect all people to say Kareem. People have their biases. That’s the way life is. That’s not something I get excited about it, but I do feel I belong in the conversation.”
The simple truth of the matter is that there’s no pleasing everybody when there are only four spots available on Mount Rushmore. Abdul-Jabbar absolutely deserves to be in the discussion, but so do all four players James named, and so does James himself.
There’s no going wrong with this question.