I’m Tired of the Excuses: LeBron Ain’t the GOAT, and This Series Proves It — Again

I’m going to say this one time and one time only, so LISTEN UP.

I’m tired.

I’m absolutely, unequivocally, soul-crushingly tired of the GOAT conversations and the hypocrisy surrounding LeBron James.

All I've been hearing is, “He’s 40 years old and STILL balling out of control. Look at him! He’s a marvel! A physical specimen! A basketball genius!”

But the moment that man gets bounced out of the playoffs — which, let’s be real, has become an annual spring tradition — the excuses start flooding in like a busted pipe in a cheap apartment somewhere.

“Oh, he’s 40!”

“Oh, he needs help!”

“Oh, the roster was flawed!”

Stop it.  Just… stop.

Do y’all know that in Games 4 and 5 of the fourth quarter, LeBron James shot 2-for-9 and scored a grand total of FIVE POINTS COMBINED?!

Do you think Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Bird, or Tim freakin’ Duncan are doing that?

HELL NAH!

And look — I respect what LeBron’s accomplished. He’s one of the coldest players ever. But he isn’t the GOAT.

I got him sixth. Behind MJ, Kobe, Magic, Kareem, and Shaq.

Period.

You want to talk eras? Steph Curry owns this one.

• One team.

• Four rings.

• Better Finals records vs. LeBron

• Revolutionized the game.

• Outshined LeBron on the biggest stages — even in the Olympics.

And now, as Bron’s torch dims, everybody wants to hand it to Luka Doncic.

I get it.

Luka is special.

Luka is box office.

Luka is a walking bucket with vision, size, and a stepback from hell.

He’s only 26 and already a future Hall of Famer. 

I’m not denying that.

BUT LISTEN TO ME RIGHT NOW — he’s got to stop treating defense like it’s optional.

Kendrick Perkins didn’t lie when he said Luka might be the worst defensive superstar of the modern era.

That’s not shade; that’s just facts.

The man is elite offensively—28 points in the loss, easy money— but you can’t be that elite on one side of the floor and a traffic cone on the other.

Luka needs to tighten up that conditioning, improve his lateral movement, and at least act like defense is part of the game plan.

Because you can’t ask for the throne while giving up layups like it’s a free buffet. That ain’t championship DNA.

I believe in Luka — I do. But belief comes with standards. The way Bron had to face the fire, Luka’s time is coming too. And if he wants to lead the next generation, he better bring more than highlight passes and logo threes.

This league doesn’t hand out greatness.

You have to EARN it.

LeBron had the stage and fell short — again. Luka’s got next, but he better guard somebody while he’s at it.

Because right now?

The crown isn’t safe.

And the defense?

It’s nonexistent.