What If Michael Jordan Never Existed? LeBron Still Would Not Own the GOAT Throne

In 1991, the Bulls swept the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Remove Jordan from that roster, and Detroit probably comes out of the East. The Lakers face a different Finals opponent. Magic does not get Jordan’s MVP trophies handed to him. History does not work like a spreadsheet.

Remove Jordan, and the throne does not sit empty. It gets crowded.

The top floor already had Russell, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, and LeBron. With Jordan in the league, he held down most of the 1990s. Without him, the titles and MVPs of Barkley, Ewing, Malone, Stockton, Payton, and Drexler get redistributed. Malone might not finish ringless. Barkley might get one. Ewing might become New York’s championship center. Removing Jordan does not clear a path for LeBron. It reshuffles a decade.

Russell has 11 titles and 5 regular-season MVPs. His era had no Finals MVP, but later standards would likely credit him with about six. If titles are the measure, Russell wins. Defense, winning, and the roots of NBA culture all point to him.

Kareem has 6 regular-season MVPs, 6 titles, and 2 Finals MVPs. Many people think the 1980 Finals MVP should have been his too. He held the all-time scoring record for decades. MVP count, title count, and peak length all favor him. If MVPs plus longevity are the measure, Kareem wins.

Magic has 3 regular-season MVPs, 3 Finals MVPs, and 5 titles. In 1991, he lost both the regular-season MVP and the Finals to Jordan. Remove Jordan, and Detroit might still come out of the East. The Lakers might not win. Magic does not automatically become a 4-time MVP, 4-time Finals MVP, 6-time champion. But his standing rises. Showtime becomes the brightest offensive dynasty of the late 1980s and early 1990s. If playmaking and offensive style are the measure, Magic wins.

Bird won three straight regular-season MVPs in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Magic won in 1987. Jordan won in 1988. Remove both, and 1987 and 1988 might go to Bird. In 1989, Bird played only 6 games because of injury, so five straight MVPs is impossible. He might end up with 4 or 5 MVPs, 3 or 4 Finals MVPs, and about 4 titles. Face of the 1980s, forward playmaking, clutch shots, and trash talk all belong to him.

Duncan has 5 titles, 2 regular-season MVPs, and 3 Finals MVPs. He won quietly. Shaq has a three-peat and three straight Finals MVPs. He was one of the most dominant big men ever. Kobe has 5 titles, 2 Finals MVPs, 1 MVP, and enormous cultural influence. None of them disappear because Jordan does. They are still there.

LeBron has 4 regular-season MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs, 4 titles, 13 All-NBA First Teams, the all-time scoring record, the playoff scoring record, 10 Finals appearances, and championships with three franchises. He is all-time in completeness, accumulation, longevity, and adaptability. If the measure is who is most complete, most durable, most able to win on different teams, or most terrifying in cumulative stats, LeBron can be first.

Change the measure to most titles, and Russell steps up. Change it to most MVPs and longest peak, and Kareem steps up. Change it to most creative playmaking and brightest era dominance, and Magic steps up. Change it to toughest player of the 1980s, and Bird steps up. Change it to quietest winner, and Duncan steps up. Change it to most dominant three-peat, and Shaq steps up. Change it to greatest skill and mentality influence, and Kobe steps up.

Without Jordan, the GOAT debate is not LeBron alone at the top. It is a fight.

If you measure titles, Russell leads. If you measure MVPs and longevity, Kareem leads. If you measure playmaking, Magic leads. If you measure the 1980s, Bird leads. If you measure all-around accumulation, LeBron leads. If you measure quiet winning, Duncan leads. If you measure peak dominance, Shaq leads. If you measure skill and mentality, Kobe leads.

LeBron would be one of the centers. He would be the most complete, most durable, most accumulative of that group. Most complete does not mean only. Most durable does not mean undisputed.

Remove Jordan, and Magic appears. Remove Magic, and Bird appears. Keep removing them, and Dr. J, Moses Malone, and Kareem all move up. The list is long. It never ends.