Comparing things across other genres (like movies) is ridiculous. Cowherd is simply driving hits and speculation to his show with nonsense like this. I easily have LeBron as one of the five greatest players to play the game, up there with Jordan, Magic, Kareem, and Wilt (granted Wilt dominated in a lesser era unlike the others and can be argued he should not be in this group).
Lets look at Cowherd's claim of three great teams. Disclaimer: LeBron left town to join forces with one top five player* and HOF lock (Wade) and one top 15/20ish player* (Bosh, possible HOFer) to win his first two titles. This can never be left off the table during a debate. While free agency is around now days and we'll never know what top players would have signed up with others back in the day, we definitely know LeBron jumped ship when the chance present itself. He also recruited a third surefire HOFer (Allen) for title number two.
*Top player category at the present time not all-time.
First off, great teams aren't necessarily so because of HOF collection. Are the 1997 Rockets or 2004 Lakers a great team? Or is a must win Finals the lock to be labeled great? This can also apply to the 90s Jazz sides although their continued contention for more than a decade may ease the debate, depending on one's view.
Secondly, OKC was not a "great team" by great team standards, and the likes of Harden and Westbrook were nowhere near HOF caliber at the time (2011-12); Durant was on the HOF path while Westbrook was entering the elite player status (the debate raged on circa 2012), Harden was but a sixth man with massive potential that finally came into his own when traded. OKC won 47 games in the strike-shortened season, a win percentage that translates to about 58 wins in 82-games; the Bulls and Spurs won more games (50) that season. For me, "great teams" do 1) win 60+/equivalent of in a season multiple times, and/or 2) win championships before/after said loss, and/or 3) make multiple Finals appearances in short duration. OKC achieved 60 wins the following season before bowing out in the conference semis to a 5th seed. OKC never won a title before or after their lone Finals appearance to boot. A very good team but never in the contention for greatness. Cowherd simply coined great to create his false point.
Third, San Antonio was a great team, no doubt. This point cannot be argued realistically. The only contention I'd make is if not for a great Bosh rebound-kickout to Allen who then made a ridiculous shot to save the season, LeBron again loses a series despite being the favorite (recall Dallas, 2011). And do recall who missed that potential tying shot in Game 6 that led to the aforementioned play that bailed LeBron out of another summer of more criticism (fair or unfair). That said, LeBron went off in Game 7, credit to him but he owes it all to Bosh and Allen. Oh, and the (aging) Spurs humiliated the Heat in 2014. It's not fair to call out LeBron on the 2007 Finals loss as his side was vastly inferior to the Spurs.
Fourth, Golden State, while a great team obviously, currently posses two surefire HOF players, Curry and Durant, while Green may end up there but Thompson is nowhere near that level IMO. Thompson could be down the road if he puts up a career similar to say Ginobli, Dumars, (Dennis) Johnson, etc. who played pivotal, all-star roles on dominating sides. Or he ends up a Rolando Blackmon, a Byron Scott, a Horace Grant, etc. - top players for great/good teams but not quite HOF standard. Green will probably end up a McHale, a Walton, a Rodman type that was so crucial to a championship side and a damn great player in his own right. I'll give GS three HOF players today but only two when LeBron beat them last season.
Fifth, Jordan did play some very good sides with only the Jazz being up for true greatness level IMO.
- The 91 Lakers did feature two HOFers but one was injured as Cowherd noted and that side was more of a former/historical great side that had fallen a notch or two down to being a very good team.
- The 92 Blazers were a top side and had been since the late 80s and into the mid 90s, with one HOF player (Drexler), and could be argued for greatness considering they appeared in two finals (90,92) and topped 60 wins in 91. I'd say they're more of an "almost great" side.
- The 93 Suns were a very good side and featured one HOFer, one should be HOFer (Chambers), and a few top class players (KJ, Majerle); KJ was playing at a HOF lock level in the early 90s before injuries hit. It can be argued this Suns side were just as good perhaps better than both the 11 Mavs and 12 Thunder.
- The 96 Sonics were better than the 12 Thunder, and if Cowherd will say the Thunder were great he must call the 96 Sonics great. Payton is the only actual HOFer from that Sonics side but many may forget that Kemp was playing like a future HOFer at that point, unlike say Harden in 12. Also note that Seattle topped 60 wins in 1994, 1996, and 1998 seasons but never won a title and made one Finals appearance (like OKC).
- The 97 & 98 Jazz are clearly a great side if Cowherd considers the 12 Thunder. Two HOF players still at peak performance despite advanced age along with a solid supporting cast and a HOF coach but missing that one extra option that may have allowed them to overcome the Bulls.
Finally, Jordan never lost to the lesser side, nor when playing on a stacked powerhouse side. This should end the argument honestly and could be the first (and only) point to debunk any claim like Cowherd's. I didn't hear Cowherd mention the 2011 Mavericks, nowhere near a great team but a great collection of veterans with one HOFer in his prime (Dirk) and a future HOFer (Kidd) that had clearly faded from past glory days. I suppose Marion and/or Terry will be considered for enshrinement but I don't foresee actual inclusion.
If one wants to argue that Finals appearances reflect LeBron's greatness over Jordan's I would find that a more reasonable debate. Magic made nine Finals appearances, granted he was hobbled in the eight and aging in the ninth (and possibly already with the HIV), and those losses are rarely if ever held against him - although it is ultimately what vaunted Jordan past him in the GOAT talks. Well that and six Finals MVPs in six Finals appearances. Kinda tough to argue against that.
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as a Thunder fan I am making no apologies for it 
