Three-time NBA champion Mario Elie, known for his stints with the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, recently cast doubt on LeBron James’ claim to be the greatest basketball player of all time (G.O.A.T.).
Elie argued that James’ legacy is tainted by the trend of modern NBA stars forming superteams, a practice that was rare in the 1990s.
Elie remarked on today’s NBA culture, saying:
“All these guys wanna join each other…and play with each other. No, I wanna beat you. LeBron, you say you the G.O.A.T.—why you joinin’ [Chris] Bosh and— you know what I’m sayin’? We wasn’t doin’ that in the ’90s.”
He continued by highlighting how legendary players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson never sought to team up, preferring to compete against one another instead.
He further criticized the current era, labeling it the “AAU era,” where, in his view, players seek easier paths to success.
“These boys want it easy right now. It’s the AAU era right now…Everybody want it easy. LeBron want Anthony Davis. Who else you want, LeBron? You talkin’ ’bout you the G.O.A.T. Come on, man…Great player, love him, but everybody wanna play buddy ball.”
While LeBron James’ early career in Cleveland lacked elite teammates, his decision to join the Miami Heat in 2010 changed the narrative.
Teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the trio captured two NBA championships. In his second stint in Cleveland, James joined forces with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, securing another title in 2016. Currently, James plays alongside Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers, where they won a championship in 2020.
Elie’s comments underscore the ongoing debate about the impact of superteams on legacies in the NBA, questioning whether James’ accomplishments carry the same weight as those who played in a different era.
