The debate for basketball GOAT is utterly subjective, and those who want to engage in the discussion will probably have to sit down with each other forever.
The debate is narrowed down using statistics, and when this part of the debate comes in, one guy sits alone in the summit - Lebron James.
The Los Angeles Lakers star has been in the league for so long that he has built up a house of unbreakable records.
Here are some of James' stats that will probably never be broken:
1. Most All-Star Game Selections at 19
One argument James fans put forward in the GOAT is his peak longevity. The 2003 no. 1 overall draft pick made his All-Star debut in 2005 and has never missed it since then. He is currently tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 19 All-Star appearances, but it is just a matter of time before it gets broken, most likely in the coming 2024 All-Star in Indiana.
Kevin Durant and Chris Paul are the remaining active players standing close to this record. However, these two guys will need at least 8 more appearances to break this record. It might be difficult, given their age.
2. Most All-NBA Selections at 19
This category is the proof of his longevity. James has 19 All NBA Team Selections - 13 First Team and three each for Second Team and Third Team.
He also owns the record for most First Team selections and is the only one selected for 10 straight seasons.
CP3 and KD are again on the list of players with at least 10 selections. They will need 8 and 9 selections, respectively, to match the King's record.
3. Most NBA Playoffs Wins
The Lakers star is just not in the game for quite long. He is on top of it and has playoff appearances to back it up.
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James has the most playoff wins at 182. The closest one is Derek Fisher, who recorded 161. No active player is in the Top 15. Klay Thompson (108) and Draymond Green (107) are in 18th and 20th place, respectively.
4. Career Playoff minutes played
James being a mainstay of the postseason is another extension of his career longevity. He currently owns the record for most minutes played in the postseason. He has already played 11,654 minutes in his 20-year career.
Nobody broke the 10,000 mark other than him, not even Tim Duncan (second place), who never missed the playoffs.
James, for his part, missed the playoffs four times in his career - twice during his years with the Cleveland Cavaliers and twice with the Los Angeles Lakers.
5. 30K-10K-10K Club
What sets James apart from other GOAT finalists is his ability to affect the game differently.
James is the only member of the 30k-10k-10k club, a record of points, rebounds, and assists.
Seven players reached 30,000 points, just seven in the 35,000 mark (including James).
In terms of rebounds, James is joined by 41 others who have snagged more than 10,000 rebounds. Six other players made 10,000 assists.
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