Michael Jordan is regarded as the GOAT of basketball by many fans and analysts alike. LeBron James is another player who is often mentioned in the same breath as NBA lore.
According to Jordan, the GOAT debate isn’t something you can truly have, as no player has or can play against every player in NBA history.
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“The GOAT term is something I’ll never get high or low about. It just doesn’t exist for me. I never played against Oscar Robertson or Jerry West; I would have loved to. As competitive as I am.
“I actually learned from them. We paved the road for Kobes and LeBrons. The game of basketball is a player after previous players have evolved the game further. But don’t then use that against the players that actually taught you the game or that you learned from,” Jordan explained on Insights to Excellence.
“I would have loved to play against LeBron and Kobe in my prime, but we’ll never be able to know that… Part of the thing that tries to elevate one generation above the other, I think, it creates animosity. I have no animosity against today’s players, but you do have certain players that do have animosity due to the forgotten-ness of their contributions to the game of basketball… It is an empty comparison.
“I think LeBron has had an unbelievable career. I admire him for what he’s done. As well as Kobe [Bryant], KD, all these guys. I think they’ve elevated the game of basketball tremendously. I just don’t agree when you start putting one above the other. It doesn’t work.”
Jordan is absolutely correct. It is difficult to pinpoint one player above the rest when they play in different eras against different competition, and with different rules. Still, if one player has risen above the rest, it’s Michael Jordan.
