LeBron James accepts the Best Male Athlete award onstage during the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 13, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images/Kevin Winter)
LeBron James is already considered one of the greatest basketball players ever and possibly the best of his generation. However, James revealed in an interview that he is being haunted by the ghost of Michael Jordan and he wants to become the greatest of all time.
"I think it's cool to put myself in position to be one of those great players, but if I can ever put myself in position to be the greatest player, that would be something extraordinary," James told Sports Illustrated.
The King recently fulfilled his promise by finally bringing an NBA championship to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He did it becoming the first player to lead his team in the five major statistics in the Finals and helping the Cavaliers to overcome a 3-1 deficit.
Not only did James win his third championship ring, he defeated the greatest regular season team of all time. The Golden State Warriors won a record-breaking 73 wins but the Cavaliers became the first team in NBA Finals history to win the title despite being down 3-1.
With that accomplishment, the debate whether or not James surpassed Jordan as the GOAT was revived. Of course, many people still think that the 31-year-old Cavaliers superstar still has a lot of work to do to become the greatest.
According to FOX Sports, James has a lot of work to do before being called the GOAT and take the crown from His Airness. It is noted that the 4-time MVP has to stay in Cleveland for the rest of his career and not build a "superteam" with Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony.
The report added that James must also win four more championships to surpass MJ's ring total. He would also need to do it consecutively and win the next three NBA Finals. It will be a difficult task since the Warriors reloaded big time by signing Kevin Durant.
Nevertheless, it is still a tough task for James to do but he already did the unthinkable by bringing a title to the city of Cleveland. As for individual tasks, FOX Sports noted that The King has to win three more MVP Awards to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record.
Other stats James has to fill up is pass Karl Malone on the all-time scoring list, move into the Top 50 of the rebounding list, Top 10 in assists and a very difficult task of averaging a triple-double in a season. All of these are almost impossible but James is much closer to Jordan than ever.
Check out the video below for the Top 10 plays of King James in the 2015-16 season.
