Hottest Unanswerable Questions in Sports Right Now

If the Golden State Warriors don't win the 2016 NBA title, will their 73-win season be diminished? Will the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls continue their reign as the greatest team in NBA history?

They are examples of those hotly debated yet ultimately unanswerable questions in sports. You know the ones—they're what sports pundits spend the great majority of their professional lives chatting about. 

Of course, if the Dubs win, those sample questions are moot, so let's take a look at a few other topics that will be far less simple to settle upon an answer to.

To answer many of the following questions would require definitions or sets of criteria that have not and will not be universally agreed upon. This, therefore, makes indisputable resolutions nearly impossible. Either way, the questions provide fantastic subject matter for debate—and thank goodness for that. After all, where would sports be without them?

Oh, and just to stir the pot, an answer will be provided for each unanswerable question. So get your heated rebuttals ready.

Are/Were the Spurs a Dynasty?

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Are the San Antonio Spurs a dynasty, and if so, did the sports world just witness its end?

The root of the former's answerability lies in the challenge of defining a sports dynasty. At its most general, a dynasty is just a team that wins a bunch, right?

But how much? Are the Gregg Popovich-era Spurs a dynasty for winning five titles in 16 years? Bill Russell's Boston Celtics certainly were for winning 11 in 13, right?

Not everyone agrees on even that much. Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight used Elo ratings to suggest the aforementioned Spurs were actually better.

The sports world is in desperate need of some type of official "dynasty percentage" that draws a line between true dynasties and franchises that experienced a good run—but don't hold your breath.

Answer: These Spurs have been in the playoffs in each of Popovich's full seasons in charge since he became coach in 1996, and they have won more NBA titles than the Bill Belichick-era New England Patriots have won Super Bowls. That sure seems like a dynasty.

What Did Tom Brady Know About the PSI?

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What exactly did or does Tom Brady know about the PSI levels in the footballs used during the 2015 AFC Championship Game? Unless you are the New England Patriots quarterback, you can't know for sure.

According to the Wells Report (h/t Jared Dubin of CBS Sports), Brady was "at least generally aware" of alleged equipment tampering that resulted in underinflation.  

For his part, Brady has denied knowledge of any wrongdoing, and he is appealing the ruling on the NFL's appeal on the...oh, forget it! The point is, Brady is still fighting the four-game suspension handed to him by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his alleged involvement. 

Answer: In all likelihood, Brady just made sure the equipment guys knew he liked the balls on the softer side of Sears, and that, combined with the cold weather, resulted in the slight underinflation of one football.

Honorable mention unanswerable question: Will Deflategate ever end?

Will Tiger Woods Win Another Major?

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"Will Tiger Woods win another major" isn't exactly a new question, but it will continue to be hot until the famed golfer announces his retirement or, you know, wins another major.

Woods' major total sits at 14, four shy of Jack Nicklaus' record of 18. No. 14 came all the way back in 2008. Since then, Woods has struggled with injuries and missed significant stretches of time.

In April, the results of a Golf Confidential survey, conducted by ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine, showed 70 percent of 60 surveyed PGA golfers believe Woods is done winning majors.

Around the same time, Nicklaus himself said his record isn't safe with Woods out there (and also guys such as Jordan Spieth). Per the AP (h/t Golf.com), Nicklaus said: "I don't think he's done. I think Tiger is going to win more tournaments."

Answer: No offense to Nicklaus, but the likelihood of Woods winning another major, given his injury issues, seems slim.

Is Baseball Fun?

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Like all hotly debated sports questions, this one depends on the person you ask. Still, the cheeky Make Baseball Fun Again campaign started by Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is gaining traction.

In March, Harper told Tim Keown of ESPN The Magazine baseball's litany of unwritten rules have made the sport "tired" and that it could use more personality a la Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Harper—and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig—has since started sporting Make Baseball Fun Again swag.

Meanwhile, retired MLB greats Goose Gossage and Johnny Bench disagree wholeheartedly. Gossage said of Harper to ESPN 1000 (h/t Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post): "What does this kid know? This kid doesn't know squat about the game, and [has] no respect for it."

Answer: Baseball traditions are important, but there are ways to honor the past yet keep the game relevant. Bright personalities, bat flips and "100" emoji bat stickers all make baseball more fun.

Is Leicester City's PL Triumph the Greatest Sports Story of All Time?

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Any type of GOAT question is inevitably going to be challenging to answer. The incredible run of Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2015-16, however, has provided material for a debate that could easily rage for a long time.

Danielle Rossingh of Forbes pointed out the 5,000-1 odds Leicester overcame to take the title one year after near-relegation were some of the longest overcome in sports.  

James Masters of CNN wrote:

"

At the start of last August, just weeks after Leicester had escaped demotion from the Premier League where it had spent most of the year 20th out of 20, you would have got better odds on Kim Kardashian becoming president of the U.S by 2020 and Hugh Hefner confessing to being a virgin, than Leicester City winning the title. 

"

Really.

Of course, what makes a sports story "great" isn't fixed, but many can agree on the appeal of a good underdog story. A small-market team beat near-impossible odds to capture one of the most prestigious titles in sports? It was pretty great.

Answer: The history of sports is long and deep, but overcoming 5,000-1 odds is absurd. The Leicester story is at least top five.

Are eSports 'Real' Sports?

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Many enduring debates are rooted in the concept of a definition. For instance, what is a sport? No matter what the Dictionary says, fans will always debate this about various sports—old and new.

For the sake of timeliness, let's talk about eSports.

In 2014, ESPN President John Skipper said, "It's not a sport—it's a competition. Chess is a competition. Checkers is a competition. Mostly, I'm interested in doing real sports," per Nick Schwartz of For the Win.

Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said of League of Legends, "This is a real sport, and people are going to figure it out really, really quick," during a 2015 interview with ESL (h/t Rob Gordon of Game Rant). The U.S. government recognizes gamers as professional athletes, per Forbes, and research from the German Sports University has pointed to physical strain experienced by gamers, per DW. 

Answer: This question is truly unanswerable unless a universally agreed upon definition of "sport" can be reached. However, folks who lack a solid knowledge base on the ins and outs of eSports should reserve judgment.

Is Stephen Curry a Top-10 Player?

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Stephen Curry is shattering NBA records left and right. In 2016, the Golden State Warriors guard became the first unanimous NBA MVP, he improved upon his own record for threes made in a season by 116 (286 in 2014-15 to 402 in 2015-16) and was part of the first NBA team to ever win 73 regular-season games.

Many have called him the greatest shooter of all time, including legendary players such as Scottie Pippen and Steve Nash.

Is all that enough to name the 28-year-old a top-10 player of all time, though? Of Curry in the top 25, Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN.com wrote: "You have to be sympathetic to the contrary perspective here, those aghast to seeing Curry's name this high. It all happened so fast. Curry wasn't even considered a star until 2013."

The real question is, how does one define the GOAT? Is it about cumulative career achievements (rings, MVPs, all-star games)? If so, Curry just hasn't had enough time to rack all that up yet. Think about if Curry's career ended today—what would his legacy be?

Or is it about pure, otherworldly talent? No one can dispute Curry's got boatloads of that. 

Answer: It's too soon to put Curry in the all-time top 10, but the man is well on his way to a spot therein.

What Is the 'Right Way' to Handle the Situation in Rio?

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The situation in Rio de Janeiro leading up to the 2016 Summer Olympics is complicated, to say the least. There are a number of major issues, including the Zika virus, water safety and political uncertainty in Brazil. Possible solutions include postponing, moving or even cancelling the Olympics.

Several athletes—including U.S. women's soccer goalie Hope Solo and Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol—have expressed concern over the Zika virus. The Harvard Public Health Review published an article by Dr. Amir Attaran urging the Games not proceed in Brazil because of the risks associated with the virus.

Per Stephen Wilson of AP Sports (via ABC News): "Water pollution remains a concern for Olympic sailing, rowing and open water swimming events."

On top of that, in May, the Brazil senate voted to impeach president Dilma Rousseff because of concerns over corruption and financial turmoil, per the Guardian.

The New York Times posted a collection of articles under the heading "Should Brazil Postpone the Olympics?" Opinions vary widely, as one would expect.

Answer: There is no one "right way" to deal with a situation this monumental, but one thing is certain: Serious consideration should be given to the health and safety of athletes, spectators and their compatriots at home.

What Will LeBron James' Legacy Be?

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The word "legacy" is often the jumping off point for some of sports' most enduring debates, largely because legacy questions are inherently open-ended and subjective.

As one of the most talented yet most polarizing athletes of his generation, LeBron James' legacy is always a hot topic, particularly as his Cleveland Cavaliers attempt to knock of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Fifty years from now, what will be the prevailing thoughts on King James' career?

First, there is the James vs. Michael Jordan question. With gas left in the tank, James has won two titles to MJ's six and four league MVPs to MJ's five. He has also taken his teams to the NBA Finals for six consecutive seasons.

Yet what about his four lost Finals (Jordan never lost one), a number that could soon reach five? What about a title for Cleveland? One could argue if James never wins one for his hometown team, his legacy will suffer.

Answer: James will go down as one of the all-time great NBA players, but folks will always disagree on the particulars. James will be remembered as an impossible athletic talent with a complicated overall legacy.

NBA or NHL Playoffs?

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The Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing—the Pittsburgh Penguins in search of Sidney Crosby's elusive second Cup and the San Jose Sharks seeking their first in franchise history.  

Meanwhile, the NBA Finals feature a rematch between the defending champion Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 2016 incarnations of the NHL and NBA playoffs have both had their share of drama—the Washington Capitals bowed out early despite running away with the Presidents' Trophy, and the Warriors came back from a 3-1 hole against a ferocious Oklahoma City Thunder squad to take the Western Conference Finals.

Arguments could be made all day for which sport has the better athletes, which games are more exciting to watch and the like.

Peter Botte of the New York Daily News wrote: "Start-to-finish, there is no more consistently thrilling race for a championship or a cooler trophy in pro sports than the Stanley Cup. Unlike the NBA, the NHL's is a tournament in which lower-seeded teams actually pull upsets fairly often in the early rounds."

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, and yet...

Answer: Hockey. Because sudden-death overtime.