LeBron James and Karl Malone share some similarities as players. Both of their primes lasted impressively long, which factored into why their names typically show up in NBA records, they've played in multiple NBA Finals, and, of course, they spent some time on the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, while James is considered perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, Malone is considered perhaps the greatest basketball player to never win a title. Those titles are well-earned, as sad as it is to say. However, we don't have to put Malone down to prop up James as much as he already has been.
Yet we get takes that compare the two basketball legends. Today, we got it from Max Kellerman, who, on his podcast, "Game Over," with James' agent, Rich Paul, claimed James was better in last year's playoffs than Malone ever was.
Like, ever.
Max Kellerman on how GREAT LeBron still is:
— Witness King James (@WITNESSKJ) August 3, 2026
“LeBron James this past year, in the playoffs, was better than Karl Malone ever was a day in his life in the NBA.” 💯
(via Game Over) pic.twitter.com/hl1c4QN5DN
For what it's worth, given his age, James was quite impressive. Leading the Lakers past the Houston Rockets without Luka Doncic - the Rockets were also pretty undermanned - but the Lakers were promptly curb-stomped by Oklahoma City in the next round. There's a reason why he switched to a more talented team this summer.
In 10 games in total, he averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.7 rebounds while shooting nearly 46% from the field and 32.7% from three. Those are fine numbers (not what he used to put up by any means), but come on, guys. Peak Malone did better than 41-year-old James.
Malone's playoff record is definitely spotty, but he dominated in stretches
Malone garnered a bit of a reputation as a playoff choker, which isn't necessarily wrong with all that happened during the Jazz's two NBA Finals appearances in the late-90s. However, this is the same guy who spearheaded their dominance over the early days of the Kobe-Shaq era.
They didn't just beat one of the best duos ever. They crushed them.
The Jazz had one of the longest runs of dominance ever for a good reason. Malone and the others had their moments of choking, but they were still up there for a good reason. Switch 41-year-old James for prime Mailman and their playoff runs pan out much worse.
Look, it's okay to be a LeBron stan, but we don't have to try to erase history because of what's happening now. James is insane and it's no debate between whose career was better than whose when comparing him with Malone.
But we don't have to go this far...
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