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Shaquille O’Neal drops stunning Kobe bomb on LeBron James-Michael Jordan GOAT debate

Nypost · · 330 words · By Thomas L Murray
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What to know about Shaquille O’Neal drops stunning Kobe bomb on LeBron James-Michael Jordan GOAT debate

When people discuss who is the GOAT in basketball, it’s often a debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

When people discuss who is the GOAT in basketball, it’s often a debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Why it matters

On an episode of “The Big Podcast” hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, he questioned why former teammate Kobe Bryant isn’t included in the conversation.

Common ground

“There’s only three people in the GOAT conversation.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/07/sports/shaquille-oneal-drops-stunning-kobe-bomb-on…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 5
check_circle Corroborated 4
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
Claim 1: “Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 in 1962”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Although the specific 'Evidence for claim 8' section is empty, the evidence provided for claim 7 explicitly mentions 'Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game from 1962'.
verified
Claim 2: “He spent his 20-year career as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia explicitly states that Kobe Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kobe Bean Bryant ( KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Black Mamba", he played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles La…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 122–104 win over the Toronto Raptors. Bryant scored what was at the time the most points scored since th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant's_81-point_game
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Kobe and Gianna Bryant Memorial Statue is a work of public art designed by American visual artist Karon Davis and created by the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany. The bronze sculpture of the Ame…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Kobe_and_Gianna_Brya…
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 3: “James, who has won four championships in his 23-year career”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for LeBron James focuses on his current team (Philadelphia 76ers in the provided text, which is an anomaly) but does not explicitly state the number of championships or the exact length of his career in the provided snippets.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr. (born October 6, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A consensus four-star re…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronny_James
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bryce Maximus James (born June 14, 2007) is an American college basketball player for the Arizona Wildcats of the Big 12 Conference. He is the second child of National Basketball Association (NBA) pla…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_James
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — LeBron Raymone James Sr. ( lə-BRON; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 4: “Bam Adebayo tallied 83 in 2026.”
CORROBORATED
A web search result explicitly states 'Heat's Bam Adebayo scores 83 points, passes Kobe Bryant for single-game scoring'. While the year 2026 is in the future relative to standard training data, the provided live evidence confirms this event occurred.
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Claim 5: “Bryant was a two-time Finals MVP and a regular-season MVP in 2008.”
CORROBORATED
Britannica and other web sources confirm he was the 2008 regular-season MVP and a two-time Finals MVP (2009, 2010).
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2009 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2008–09 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. A best-of-seven playoff series starting on Ju…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_Finals
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kobe Bean Bryant ( KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Black Mamba", he played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles La…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to the player(s) voted best of the annual All-Star Game. The award was estab…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Star_Game_Most_Valuabl…
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 6: “Bryant’s greatest performance came on Jan. 22, 2006, when he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia explicitly confirms that on January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Kobe Bean Bryant (/ ˈkoʊbi / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed " the Black Mamba ", he played his entire 20-year career with the Lo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Kobe did not exist in its current form until its founding in 1889. Its name comes from Kanbe (神戸; an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine). [5][6] Kobe became one of Japan's designa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Checkout the latest stats of Kobe Bryant. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.htm…
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Claim 7: “Jordan, who won six NBA titles and was crowned Finals MVP in all six series.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources confirm Michael Jordan won six NBA championships and was the Finals MVP in all six.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Michael Jordan has an impressive playoff record, having won six NBA championships and being named NBA Finals MVP in all of those championships. What franchises does Michael Jordan have ownership in?
https://www.capitalism.com/michael-jordans-net-worth/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Checkout the latest stats of Michael Jordan. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.htm…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Michael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and led the team to two separate three-peat titles.Not only did Jordan win six rings, but the guard also added an MVP award in each of his N…
https://heavy.com/sports/2020/04/michael-jordan-championship…
help
Claim 8: “the third-most points in a game by a player.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
The claim states it is the third-most points. However, multiple sources (TikTok, Artificial Noodles) explicitly state it is the second-highest single-game total in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — #NBA #history #kobe #81points #lejend Kobe Bryant's 81-Point Game: Legendary NBA Performance.Relive Kobe Bryant's iconic 81-point game, the second most points ever scored in an NBA game. Discover the …
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/81-kobe
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Kobe Bryant scored 27 points in the third quarter. Then 28 more in the fourth.When the final buzzer sounded, Kobe had scored 81 points. The second-highest single-game total in NBA history, behind only…
https://www.artificialnoodles.com/blog/the-81/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He wound up passing Bryant for single-game scoring as well. Bryant’s career-best was 81 — a game that was the second-best on the NBA scoring list for two decades. Until now. And Adebayo only needed th…
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/03/10/heats-bam-adebayo-sco…
verified
Claim 9: “leading them to five NBA championships.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Both Wikipedia and Britannica confirm Kobe Bryant won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kobe Bean Bryant ( KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Black Mamba", he played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles La…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored a career-high 81 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 122–104 win over the Toronto Raptors. Bryant scored what was at the time the most points scored since th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant's_81-point_game
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Kobe and Gianna Bryant Memorial Statue is a work of public art designed by American visual artist Karon Davis and created by the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt-Amrany. The bronze sculpture of the Ame…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Kobe_and_Gianna_Brya…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 10: “On an episode of “The Big Podcast” hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, he questioned why former teammate Kobe Bryant isn’t included in the conversation.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results explicitly quote Shaquille O'Neal stating that he doesn't like that Kobe Bryant's name is not included in the GOAT conversation, and mentions this occurred on his podcast.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In sports, spectators including sports fandom and sportswriters, as well as participants themselves have discussed players, coaches, teams, and related personalities in regards to being the greatest i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sports_figures_conside…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league champion…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Finals
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Shaq & Kobe" is a song by American rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill, released on September 29, 2023 as the lead single from their collaborative studio album Too Good to Be True (2023). It was produced…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaq_&_Kobe
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.