"Kareem's skyhook was unstoppable" - Robert Parish crowned Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the GOAT over Michael Jordan

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The masses widely consider Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan the greatest player of all time, but it isn’t a sentiment shared by all players past and present. According to Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Robert Parish, Jordan was comprehensively eclipsed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the GOAT title.

During an interview with Celtics All Access, Parish explained why Kareem was superior to Mike in the hierarchy of NBA legends.

“I don’t agree with the usual assessment, and Michael was great in his time, and you have to give him credit for winning six championships in a row. You know, two three-peats. I acknowledge that, and I respect that but as good as Michael was and he was an exceptional talent. Kareem’s skyhook was unstoppable. The jump hook and the skyhook are in my opinion, the two most unstoppable weapons in basketball,” he said.

He’s not wrong

Whether one agrees with Parish or not, it’s hard to argue that Kareem’s skyhook wasn’t the single most unstoppable move in NBA history. Amassing over 38,000 points and setting the standard for longevity during his playing career, Abdul-Jabbar lasted 21 seasons by dominating opponents from the low post.

While Jordan’s signature fadeaway devastated his matchups, in the grand scheme of things, Kareem’s skyhook remains unmatched even today.

One could argue that there are far more factors that determine who the greatest player of all time is. Still, the majority of people in Kareem’s corner most certainly use the skyhook as a deciding factor in the debate.

What about the others?

There’s no question Jordan and Kareem are firmly in the conversation – but what about the others? It’s safe to say that Parish doesn’t need to give more thought to other all-time greats who can throw their name in the hat when determining the greatest player that’s ever lived.

LeBron James, for one, is a glaring omission and perhaps the most notable in the conversation. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Bill Russell, and others are infrequently mentioned, but much like Jabbar, James has built his case over 21 years, too.

If Parish has Kareem over Jordan simply because of the skyhook, I wonder if LeBron being the NBA’s all-time leading scorer makes him rethink his choice.