Magic Johnson did not hesitate when asked to settle the NBA GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
It’s hard to argue against Michael Jordan being the greatest basketball player of all time. After all, the former Chicago Bulls star won six NBA championships and six NBA Finals MVP awards.
Awards and stats only told half the story though – anyone could watch a Bulls game and tell that Jordan was a truly unique player. There’s a reason the Bulls retired his iconic No.23 jersey.
However, it’s important to remember the seriously good players that came before and after Jordan, a select group of who can be uttered in the same breath as the NBA legend.
Former players like Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Kobe Bryant are all in the conversation, while current stars Steph Curry and LeBron James are too.
Magic Johnson and LeBron are up there with the best who can rival Jordan, but former LA Laker Johnson did not hesitate when asked to pick between Jordan and LeBron.
“I don’t know, it might take a couple more championships to do that,” when asked on the Dan Patrick Show whether LeBron can surpass Jordan.
“LeBron is special, and I don’t want people always getting mad— we’ve got to celebrate both guys, Michael is the best, and we should celebrate him and celebrate LeBron.
“I hate when people get mad at you when you take one or the other. We should just say ‘hey, Michael is special’, and he’s the best to me because he never lost in the NBA Finals and he averaged over 30 points a game.
“The guy is just unbelievable. LeBron is special too in his own right too, and people shouldn’t forget that either, but when it’s all said and done, if you come at me and ask me, that’s who I am going to with and it’s MJ.”