LeBron James acknowledges the influence His Airness had on basketball, but he wouldn’t choose any other player in NBA history over himself, not even Michael Jordan.
In an interview with Sean Gregory of TIME, James clarified that while “there’s no question” who he believes is the best player in NBA history, anyone who grew up during and after the Jordan era would acknowledge the Chicago Bulls icon as a more significant player:
“I’m not taking nobody over me. There’s no question. But I think Mike will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt. Kareem. I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else. If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
James acknowledged Jordan’s impact as a well-known figure in the sports world over the span of more than 40 years:
“You ask somebody that grew up in the Jordan era, they’re gonna say Jordan. You ask somebody who grew up in the LeBron era, they’re still gonna say Jordan. Listen, to each his own. I can tell you this. I never step my feet in another man’s shoes, saying, ‘OK, well, s–t, I got to do better than him.’ My journey is my journey. I do what I do. I know what I’ve brought to the table. From a basketball standpoint, an inspiring standpoint, an influential standpoint, I know I can walk in any room.”
Perhaps the most constructive response to the James vs. Jordan debate that has ever been offered is James’ statement that he would choose himself over everyone else in the NBA GOAT debate while appreciating the other superstars who would do the same.
Due to his 6-0 NBA Finals record and six Finals MVP honors, Jordan will win titles. His case is further strengthened by the league naming the regular-season MVP award in his honor.
In terms of longevity and at least 40 league records, including the most career All-NBA selections and the all-time top scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, James surpasses Jordan.
