The debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James on who is the GOAT remains heated. Many people choose the former for his ability to achieve tons of records and six NBA championships quickly. Meanwhile, some pick the latter for his leadership, longevity, and all-around skills
In a recent podcast, he implied that the finest of the two is still none other than the Bulls legend, despite the new records made by James.
“We can really peel back all of the numbers. You can even go with the eye test, but everybody else is a distant second behind Mike. And there’s no disrespect to it.” – Johnson to the Mark Jackson Podcast.
For the former NBA champion Avery Johnson, the sacred title of GOAT remains at His Airness. As Jordan’s former opponent at the court, the newly awarded Coach of the Year’s opinion carries significant weight.
At the age of 39, James continues to gain achievements. Recently, he got his third Olympic gold medal in Paris. He was also named the Olympic MVP in men’s basketball, which was only awarded to three, including him.
Last NBA season, the ‘King’ also scored 40,000 points, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points in the league’s history. He will continue to play for the Lakers next season, attempting to win his fifth championship in his 21st year in the league.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan had already won six championships in just fifteen years, all for the Chicago Bulls. Meanwhile, LeBron James won championships in three teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the recent Los Angeles Lakers.
Both players also played in the Olympics. This time, it’s the four-time NBA MVP Laker who has more gold medals than the five-time NBA MVP Bull. The former has three first-place finishes after the recent Paris Olympics, compared to the latter’s two. James was also called the game’s MVP.
Michael Jordan will continue to be incomparable to the basketball world despite other contenders’ achievements.
LeBron James has indeed imbued the world of basketball. However, many still consider his predecessor, Michael Jordan, to be the best of the best.
Jordan revolutionized the NBA at that time. No one could compete with him in everything from his all-around stats to his never-ending athleticism. He was always the first to break records, some of which will be eventually surpassed, like James.
There are many ball players comparable to MJ. However, His Airness’ legacy is undeniably the catalyst in shaping today’s basketball.
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