Basketball Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady has reignited the eternal GOAT debate with a provocative twist: LeBron James, he claims, would be the undisputed greatest of all time, if only he had played in the triangle offense.
Appearing on Gil’s Arena, McGrady laid out his theory with conviction:
“If we take Bron who he is now… and put him in that triangle… I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be”.
Popularized by Phil Jackson and executed to perfection by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, the triangle offense is a cerebral, spacing-driven system that emphasizes ball movement, decision-making, and off-ball reads. It’s designed to empower versatile scorers and intelligent playmakers; two traits LeBron possesses in abundance.
McGrady argued that had LeBron been introduced to the triangle early in his career, his game would have evolved even further:
“Bron would have expanded his game tremendously… He’s not as fast or uber athletic like he once was. But in that triangle, learning it, I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be”.
T-Mac says if LeBron James played in a triangle offense he’d be the GOAT:
“If we take Bron who he is now… and put him in that triangle… I don’t think there’s any question who the greatest player would be.”
(via @GilsArenaShow) pic.twitter.com/AQoBUXict8
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 13, 2025
LeBron has long been the system, not a product of one. His teams have often relied on his ability to orchestrate offense, dominate in transition, and make reads on the fly. But McGrady believes that structure, specifically the triangle, could have unlocked a new dimension in LeBron’s game: one that emphasizes off-ball scoring, post play, and clutch isolation within a fluid framework.
“In a triangle, it grows, right? Now he becomes a complete player because you have to be the closer in the triangle,” McGrady added.
McGrady’s comments don’t diminish LeBron’s legacy, they reframe it. With four championships, four MVPs, and the all-time scoring record, LeBron’s résumé is already historic. But McGrady suggests that the lack of a structured offensive system may have limited LeBron’s growth in certain areas, particularly late-game shot creation and off-ball movement.
It’s a fascinating hypothetical: what if LeBron had been molded in the same system that elevated MJ and Kobe to mythical status?
