The GOAT tag was firmly in the hands of Chicago Bulls great for years. When won his fourth NBA title and started inching closer to the top of almost all statistical sections, he claimed he was the GOAT. This claim started furious debates with fans and analysts analyzing each side.

Current generation fans and some media folks believe the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has done enough to unseat the Bulls legend. Even though he might not have the NBA titles to match His Airness, his dominance in every other area and continuous elite performances in 22 seasons are second to none.

On one hand were those who believed that Jordan’s 6 titles in 6 NBA Finals appearances, along with his Defensive Player of the Year award, place him beyond anyone else. They believe James’ countless NBA Finals losses do not help his case.

The DPOY award has been met with scrutiny after a journalist analyzed tapes and concluded that record-keepers supposedly helped Jordan. Now, another journalist comes forward to claim that one aspect of Jordan’s sixth title leads to further questions on the competitiveness of that title.

To me, undoubtedly, those two men (Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman’s skirmish) are working a professional wrestling angle during the 1998 NBA Finals. I do believe it needs to be asterisked.

Neil Punsalan said on Pablo Torre Finds Out

While speaking with , he brought up the skirmish between and . believes Malone was not competing at his best, as his focus was on the upcoming wrestling battle with Rodman. Thereby, he believes Michael Jordan did not face legitimate competition.

Neil Punsalan revealed that he is a longtime Los Angeles Lakers fan and wants to see LeBron James as the GOAT. However, he believes this sequence of Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman brings up questions on the legitimacy of the competitiveness of the 1998 NBA Finals.

He also spoke with legendary play-by-play announcer , who was working Game 6 for NBC Sports. Punsalan asked him about the skirmish between the two great NBA forwards, and he clarified that he knew about the upcoming wrestling match and his calls that day relayed that.

This wrestling match was pending between Rodman and Malone. That entanglement wasn’t just a natural outcome of what can happen in a basketball game. They were trying to prolong and emphasize it, because it drew attention to what was upcoming, from which they both would profit. You could tell it was all fake.

Bob Costas said

Bob Costas went on to say that additional footage from The Last Dance documentary proved to him that Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman were not feuding. He even questioned why it was allowed to happen on the grandest stage of all.

LeBron James started getting increasing levels of criticism ever since he claimed he was the GOAT. Some believed it was premature, and he had to dominate all statistical ranks as well as win at least one more NBA title to start claiming that.

Stephen A. Smith tried to place some context in the GOAT debate by suggesting that what Michael Jordan did for eight years cements him as the greatest of all time. However, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s 22-year career makes it a GOAT career.

Even though some are trying to give either of them a place of their own, many are still embroiled in trying to compare them. Now, such claims of the lack of competition during Jordan’s time, favors from media members, officials, record keepers, and even his opponents are starting to cast some doubt.

Despite that, some believe that if James were truly as dominant and great as Jordan, he would have at least 7 or 8 titles. The fact that he could not, despite having some stellar teammates over the years, is not helping his GOAT claims.