The G.O.A.T. debate in pro basketball will never end, as most hoops experts have narrowed the list down to two players: Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
James was asked about the debate and Jordan’s influence on his game.
“I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different,” James said to ESPN.com. “I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot.
“There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but (expletive), he was (expletive) great. We’re both great. We’re both great basketball players.”
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Everett High School (MI)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Shaquille O’Neal, Cole High School (TX)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)
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Who’s the NBA’s GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim
Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)
The 41-year-old James is the league’s all-time scoring leader, and ranks No. 1 in games played as well as being the active leader in rebounds, assists, and steals.
“There are a lot of things that MJ did better than I do,” James said, “and I think there are some things that I do better than him. That’s just how the game goes. There’s a lot of things that I can say in particular. You already know how this conversation is going to be (misinterpreted) by people, man.”
James and Jordan may be different basketball players, but they agree on the GOAT conversation overall.
Jordan weighed in on the topic in March, telling CBS News, “There’s no such thing as G.O.A.T. To say that one is better than the other, it’s not really right,” while James called the debate a “very tiring conversation” and “barbershop talk.”
“I think I am one of one. I think the way I play the game, I am a one-of-one player. And MJ, as well. A (expletive) unbelievable basketball player,” James said. “I think his midrange jump shot was unbelievable. He did so many things great. I grew up (expletive) analyzing everything that he did, how he could get to his spot and rise up above everybody. Obviously, his post game was elite. His will to win. I think that is a trait that we all know and that we all wanted to be like. His determination to win.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James weighs in on Michael Jordan GOAT debate
