Why is The GOAT discussion exponentially more prevalent in the NBA?

[shopson67]

5v5, 2 way players, not single elimination.

Seems obvious to me

Plus every player has to do similar things. Specialization in the other sports makes the discussion much more difficult, unless you limit it to a single position.

 

[shopson67]

The need for contracts is pretty desperate, every year free agency is stupid.

Especially with players moving before seasons are even over

 

[gohuskresurrected]

Because it really caught fire when Jordan hit the league, they all made a shit load of cash hyping him up, and the NBA isn't the best when it comes to adapting to new times?

 

[dtgold88]

Hear it some in NFL (Brady) maybe not as big a debate as more just assume/believe it's Brady?

 

[dtgold88]

Seems obvious.

Basketball is the one sport where bringing in 1 player can completely change a teams fortunes. At least in part because it's the one sport where players can be impactful on both offense and defense.

In Lebron's first few years in the league, he took a roster of scrubs on deep playoff runs...without him those were lottery teams.

Same can be said for MJ's early Bulls teams.

In the NFL, you can have the greatest QB in history...but if the defense sucks, the o-line can't block or the receivers can't catch...they aren't winning many games.

MLB...Shohei Ohtani might be the best baseball player ever...but how many times did he make the playoffs with what was otherwise a pretty subpar Angels team?

Maybe about the D, but a GOAT QB will make a poor or average line and/or WRs better....maybe a lot better.

Totally agree about Ohtani/MLB.