Sports media personality Joy Taylor offers a nuanced perspective on basketball’s most enduring debates, weighing in on the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James GOAT conversation and arguing for a re-evaluation of Kobe Bryant’s legacy. Taylor champions LeBron as an unparalleled cultural icon, while suggesting that Kobe’s similarities to Jordan might inadvertently overshadow his true greatness.
LeBron James: The “Greatest American Superstar”
While acknowledging that LeBron James has built “the closest job of closing the gap on making a very compelling argument” for being the greatest basketball player of all time, Taylor still firmly places Michael Jordan at the top of that specific list.
However, where LeBron truly stands alone for Taylor is as a cultural phenomenon:
“I think that LeBron James is the greatest American superstar that we’ve ever seen in the history of this country,” Taylor declared. “Like, movie stars, musical talents, everyone included in whatever you can be a star at… LeBron is the GREATEST to ever do that.“
She emphasizes his remarkable longevity and pristine public image, especially given the intense scrutiny he’s faced since a young age. “He’s been in the spotlight since he was 16 years old. Scandal free, elevates everyone around him, promotes his family, uplifts organizations,” Taylor observed. She also highlights his profound impact on the teams he plays for: “When he leaves, it’s very obvious whether they were a good organization or not a good organization.”
For Taylor, LeBron’s status as an ambassador and public figure is unrivaled. “He is a huge ambassador and the face of the league and I just think how he does business and how he conducts himself in the public eye for how long he’s been in the public eye is absolutely fascinating.”
Kobe Bryant: A Legacy Overshadowed by Comparison
When it comes to Kobe Bryant’s place in the GOAT conversation, Taylor believes he is often undervalued due to his stylistic similarities to Michael Jordan.
“Kobe’s interesting because for some weird reason indicts Kobe’s legacy is that he’s so similar in our minds to Michael because we think of Michael as the GOAT,” Taylor explained. “When in fact, Kobe should probably be much higher in that GOAT conversation.“
Taylor suggests that fans’ strong association of Kobe with Jordan’s “GOAT” status inadvertently prevents them from appreciating Kobe’s unique greatness more fully.
She elaborates on Kobe’s distinct journey and evolution, which resonated deeply with fans who watched him grow: “His style was similar to Michael’s. Like, that energy and that attitude, that kind of like… I can beat anybody.”
Taylor points to the myriad phases of Kobe’s public life and career as reasons why his connection with fans was so profound. “We kind of grew up with Kobe and as we saw Kobe go through all of these different phases… his scandal obviously and the way he left the league — you know, finishing with 60 [points against Utah] and him really becoming a father and family man; and his transformation and transition out of the sport winning an Oscar; really being involved with Gigi and women’s basketball.”
“I think that we went through a lot of phases like we experienced all of Kobe,” Taylor concludes, emphasizing the unique, long-term bond fans had with the Lakers legend.
