Tracy McGrady believes LeBron James could have removed all doubt in the GOAT conversation if he had been introduced to one of basketball’s most famous systems early in his career.
“If Bron got introduced to the triangle at an early age, Bron would have expanded his game tremendously… He’s not as fast or uber athletic like he once was,” McGrady said on Gil’s Arena. “But if we take Bron who he is now, with the athleticism, speed, and everything, agility, and put him in that triangle, learning that, I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be.”
The triangle, popularized by Phil Jackson’s Bulls and Lakers, thrived on spacing and constant outlets.
It helped unlock Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as dominant scorers while also allowing them to extend their careers by relying on skill and footwork. For the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, McGrady believes the impact would have been enormous.
“In a triangle, it grows, right? Now he becomes a complete player because you have to be the closer in the triangle,” McGrady continued. “And it gives you the clearance and space to operate because of all the other s**t that’s going on. I think he would’ve learned the footwork, play with his back to the basket because that’s where he didn’t master.”
James has often been critiqued for making the “right play” in late-game moments rather than forcing shots himself. McGrady suggested that the triangle would have forced LeBron into that closer role, balancing his elite passing instincts with a scorer’s mindset.
Even without that system, James’ résumé remains unparalleled. A four-time champion, four-time MVP, and the league’s all-time scoring leader, the 40-year-old forward is set to begin his 23rd NBA season alongside Luka Doncic in Los Angeles.
McGrady’s point highlights a what-if scenario in basketball history: the most intelligent player of his era learning the most intricate offense of its time. If LeBron had mastered the triangle, McGrady is convinced, “I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be.”
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