Today’s email is a fun one.
(big thanks to Viktor, Adan and the rest of the Path crew for the debate that inspired it)
It is also, most likely, our only email this week.
I’ll be spending the week cooking up a final, public-ready version of FounderDNA, and I want to give it my full focus.
So strap in, make today’s read a good one, and I’ll see you when I re-emerge…
“We cannot generate imagined realities and use those imagined realities as ‘proof’ of our preferred reality.”
Last week, our Path community had a — let’s say, “spirited” — discussion on the GOAT debate:
LeBron vs Jordan.
And, while I don’t really want to re-ignite the debate here…
(fine, I will, but only in the PS)
…A lesson emerged that has far more value than deciding who was better at throwing a leather ball through an orange ring.
So let’s explore it.
The lesson was sparked by a statement far too many fans (mistakenly) make:
“Jordan played in a less competitive era. If LeBron played in that era he would have been way better than Jordan.”
Whether or not that’s true, I’ll let you decide…
…Just kidding, I won’t.
Because it’s definitively not true, and here’s why:
We cannot accurately compare across eras.
Everything is a product of it’s own time and environment.
To say LeBron “would have” dominated in the 80’s and 90’s is like saying:
“Netflix would have dominated in the VHS era.”
But the technology that brought Netflix into existence was built on top of the VHS era (and everything else that came before it).
Therefore, if Netflix existed in the VHS era it would not be Netflix, because it would be a product of the VHS era.
And if LeBron played in the 80’s & 90’s, he would not be the LeBron we know today…
…Because he would be a product of that generation, not this one.
Yes, players are more skilled today than they were in the 80’s and 90’s.
But only because they (and their trainers, and the modern technology that drives their training) learned from the generations before.
That’s how evolution works:
Every era improves upon the last, because it benefits from the era before it.
Everything furthers.
So no, we cannot compare across eras.
We cannot generate imagined realities (ie. “LeBron would have been even better than Jordan if he played in the 90’s”) and use those imagined realities as “proof” of our preferred reality.
That’s not how reality works.
Nobody gets graded on a curve, everyone is graded on what they did in their own unique time and environment.
Otherwise, all logic falls apart and we’re just blindly yelling at each other like we’re on First Take.
And, speaking of logic, see PS below…
– T
P.S. Here’s what ChatGPT had to say about the GOAT debate:
Under this frame — pure logic, facts, and 50+ years of deep basketball study, the most accurate answer is:
Michael Jordan is the GOAT.
Undeniable Facts Supporting Jordan 1. 6-0 NBA Finals Record
- Never lost on the biggest stage
- Always the best player in every Finals he appeared in
- 6 Finals MVPs (unanimous each time)
2. Dominance of his Era
- 10 scoring titles (most in NBA history)
- Led the league in PER, Win Shares, and advanced metrics nearly every season of his prime
- Defensive Player of the Year (while averaging 35+ PPG the same season)
3. Peak Play
- Jordan’s peak (1987-1998) is the most dominant peak ever measured both statistically and impact-wise.
- Analysts agree his 2-way dominance (offense + defense) at his peak is unmatched.
4. Cultural & Mental Impact
- Universally feared and respected by opponents
- Elevated teammates consistently
- Transcended basketball globally (without social media)
LeBron’s Argument (Facts Only) 1. Longevity & Volume Stats
- All-time leading scorer
- Top 5 in assists
- More rebounds, assists, and points than Jordan due to longevity
- 10 NBA Finals appearances (but 4-6 record)
2. All-Around Game
- More versatile statistically
- Could play and guard 1-5 positions
- Incredible passer and floor general, comparable to Magic Johnson combined with Karl Malone’s scoring durability
3. Longevity Greatness
- Still elite into year 21, which is historically unheard of
What does pure logic say? If you define GOAT as:
Who had the highest peak performance, greatest dominance in their era, and perfect Finals track record?
It’s Jordan.
If you define GOAT as:
Who compiled the greatest career total, was the most versatile, and lasted the longest at a superstar level?
It’s LeBron.
Objectively?
Michael Jordan has the edge as GOAT when viewed through the lens of:
- Dominance
- Impact
- Peak performance
- Playoff greatness
- Finals perfection
LeBron James has the edge if the question is:
- Who had the greatest career longevity and volume?
Final Verdict (Facts Only)
- Michael Jordan = The GOAT (Peak Greatness)
- LeBron James = The Greatest Career (Longevity GOAT)
Sounds pretty logical to me.
Thanks to Path OG Adan Maldonado for bringing in ChatGPT to save us from ourselves.
Hope clouds observation.” – Frank Herbert, Dune
