"I've seen classic games of Jordan versus the Pistons and the Bulls versus the Pistons. But I think the thing about LeBron and what makes him hopefully survive is that he does what's best for LeBron, not what people expect him to do, who think he should be Michael Jordan."įeb. They did it with me when I came up with and Oscar. Obviously, you guys are comparing him with me. 13, 2004 (Source: The Record - of Bergen County, New Jersey) That was the greatest basketball team of all time."Īug. "It didn't matter what I said, I knew you guys would make that connection anyway. 9 that Jordan had worn with the Dream Team. Though James downplayed the Jordan comparison, he was forced to face it again in 2004, when he made his Team USA debut - wearing the same No. 19, 2003 (Source: Chicago Sun Times) 2004-2006: James on the rise I know Michael, but I don't communicate with him. I'm not trying to compare myself to Jordan or Magic or Bird. The next generation had arrived.īefore his first game as a professional at Chicago's United Center - The House That MJ Built - James tried to downplay the comparisons. 1 overall by the Cavaliers, a team Jordan famously tormented during his NBA career. Jordan played his final game as a member of the Wizards on April 16, 2003. I think I can produce enough, contribute enough, on and off the court, to lift the city of Cleveland."Ī changing of the guard was taking place, whether Jordan wanted to acknowledge it or not. "I'm not going to be able to do it the way Jordan did, I can tell you that. If Michael Jordan is going to tell anybody to do something - the players, the media, the coaches - you should do it. There's no way I'm going to get mad at Michael Jordan criticizing me. if anybody in the world can criticize somebody, it can be Michael Jordan. " Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever and. To say that he can step in at the same level as a Tracy McGrady or a Kobe Bryant would be unfair to LeBron James." Now, if you equate that to playing in the league, I think he would be an average player in our league right now with the potential to be a better player. He has the skills that most 18-year-olds do not have. 5, 2002 (Source: Newhouse News Services) 2003: Jordan exits, James enters ![]() More people listen to him than listen to the president of the United States." "If you have a chance to talk to him, you listen. But he's young, and there's a lot of things he doesn't know." Just a year later, James himself was getting compared to deities, being dubbed "The Chosen One" on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" as a junior in high school. 15, 2018 (Source: Multiple, pregame media availability) 2002: LeBron hits the scene That's what I felt like as a 16-year-old kid when I met MJ.ĭec. I've said that over and over before, but it was like meeting God for the first time. James spoke about that first meeting this past December as he prepared to play the Jordan-owned Hornets in Charlotte. ![]() LeBron James was a young high school star who had yet to make his big impression on the national stage when he first met Michael Jordan, who was preparing for a comeback with the Wizards. ![]() Here are Jordan and James, in their own words, talking about each other over the past 17 years. In your Twitter replies.īut it doesn't matter what we say. So who is the real GOAT? The debate rages on. But their paths have been linked for as long as we can remember - and crossed again March 6 at Staples Center as James passed Jordan for fourth on the all-time scoring list. Jordan played his last game for the Washington Wizards on Ap- two months before the Cleveland Cavaliers made James the No. The King is simply bigger and stronger, and he has done it longer. OK, stop us if you've also heard this: LeBron James is the GOAT. Stop us if you've heard this before: Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. NBA, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte HornetsĮditor's note: This story was originally published on Feb. GOATs on GOATs: LeBron and MJ in their own words through the years You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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