The debate over basketball’s greatest player resurfaced this week after Rich Paul offered a clear distinction between building a team and deciding who takes the final shot. Speaking on the Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman, Paul outlined his personal rankings and late-game preferences involving the sport’s most iconic figures.
Paul said he has Kobe Bryant ranked in his top three all time, alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James. When Kellerman pressed him on order, Paul made it clear that team context matters more to him than rigid rankings.
“If I’m starting a basketball team, yeah, I’m taking LeBron number one overall. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts,” Paul said. “Yes. Yep.”
Paul explained that James’ versatility, durability, and ability to shape a roster around him makes him the top choice to build from the ground up. From a basketball operations perspective, that choice reflects how a player impacts every possession, not just scoring.
However, Paul drew a firm line when the conversation turned to the final possession of a game. “If I want the single last shot, I’m taking Michael Jordan. Right? No question about it,” he said.
That distinction aligns with long-standing basketball logic around Jordan’s scoring profile and late-game résumé. Jordan’s career includes numerous postseason game-winners and a reputation for demanding the ball in decisive moments, traits that continue to define his legacy.
Paul also addressed Bryant’s place in the discussion, noting that the late Lakers guard fits comfortably into either role depending on circumstance. “In Kobe’s case, when it comes to Kobe, I could do either one,” Paul said, referencing Bryant’s blend of shot-making and competitive mindset.
Paul closed by framing the debate as a matter of team construction rather than absolutes. “Hey, take who you want, ’cause I’ma build it to who you take versus who I’m able to take will allow me to build my team a different way,” he said.
