Every few months, the NBA GOAT debate resurfaces, with fans and analysts presenting new arguments about active stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Of course, every player’s career trajectory has remained different — some earning a permanent spot on people’s all-time list.
And while names like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are rarely debated, there’s enough chatter around Curry and James. NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, however, has a unique take on the matter.
NBA Icon Carmelo Anthony Shares an Interesting View on Stephen Curry-LeBron James’ GOAT Debate
In a recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq”, Anthony reignited the GOAT debate with Shaquille O’Neal. Anthony brought up Curry’s sureshot place in the GOAT conversation, O’Neal agreeing and referencing his own views from a few months ago.
Carmelo says that if he were in Steph’s shoes, he wouldn’t rank LeBron over him in the GOAT debate
“In Steph’s eyes, right, think about what Steph probably thinks. I don’t know, but he probably sits there and says, ‘It’s Mike, it’s Kobe, and then it’s me.’ Right? He’s not gonna… pic.twitter.com/DOS8UJh7lH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 11, 2025
“How you going to tell me, if you take in the GOATs, right? How you gonna sit there and tell me Steph’s not in that conversation?” Anthony started.
O’Neal agreed with Anthony, mentioning how he was jumped for saying the exact same thing a few months ago.
“In Steph’s eyes, right, think about what Steph probably thinks. I don’t know, but he probably sits there and says, ‘It’s Mike, it’s Kobe, and then it’s me.’ Right? He’s not gonna put Bron over himself,” Anthony added. “But he has every legitimate argument.”
Although Curry and James share a mutual respect for each other today, one cannot erase years of rivalry. The Golden State Warriors managed to keep James and his teams at bay for years, Curry leading them to four championships on his own (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022).
Of course, both Curry and James have earned praise for their longevity, both excelling in different statistical areas. While James is one of the most consistent scorers the league has seen, Curry remains the undisputed three-point king.
Additionally, the two stars have four championships to match the other’s, further fueling the GOAT debate between the two.
Comparing Curry and James’ Stats for the 2025-26 Season
| PPG | RPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | |
| Stephen Curry | 27.9 | 3.7 | 47.1 | 39.1 | 91.9 | 59 | 64 | 21 | 9 |
| LeBron James | 16.5 | 6 | 46.8 | 30.6 | 60.7 | 48 | 61 | 5 | 5 |
Shaquille O’Neal Previous Mirrored Anthony’s Comments About Curry’s GOAT Status
In March 2025, Curry became the first-ever NBA star to shoot 4,000 career three-pointers. O’Neal, celebrating that progress, praised Curry as he said, “You know the way he plays the game. How he plays the game. I mentioned on our show that you should at least put his name in the conversation of the greatest player ever.”
He went on to hype Curry’s style of play, crediting him for changing the game. “Definitely changed the game. Because of him … every team is shooting 3s,” O’Neal said. “They want to blame it on analytics, but it’s because everybody wanted to beat the Golden State Warriors and that guy.”
Even though a few fans disagreed with O’Neal’s statement, most agreed with the take, especially as Curry’s achievements on the court remain unmatched. Many pointed out that while his game might have a different style to it, he has championships and stats to back himself.
Of course, with both Curry and James entering the final leg of their careers, one question remains — will either star be able to bag a fifth NBA championship before they retire?
