Julius Erving explains exclusion of LeBron James from all-time NBA list

Julius Erving sparked a debate among basketball observers after reiterating his policy of excluding active players from his personal all-time NBA rankings. Erving maintained that he evaluates only retired players, which explains the omission of LeBron James despite the league's all-time leading scorer's career accomplishments. The list, first unveiled in 2023, features names such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan. While some fans defended the logic as a consistent standard for comparing completed resumes, others criticized the decision as an oversight given the longevity and statistics James has accumulated. James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, remains an active player and has now joined the Sixers. The disagreement highlights ongoing tension in evaluating players across different eras of professional basketball.

• 10:32 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Wack Excuse,’ ‘Makes Perfect Sense’ — NBA World Clashes Over Julius Erving’s Reasoning for Leaving LeBron James off His All-Time Greats List