The ongoing debate among NBA fans regarding who is the greatest of all time continues to center around Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Jordan, who won six championships with two three-peats, has long been considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. On the other hand, James, who has four championships and has been in the national spotlight since high school, has also made his case for being the GOAT. A recent poll conducted by The Athletic asked 142 current players who they believed was the greatest of all time between Jordan and James, with Jordan receiving 45.9% of the vote compared to James’ 42.1%. Another poll by HoopsHype showed a larger gap between the two players, with Jordan leading 49% to 37%.
Devonte’ Graham, who previously played under Jordan when he was the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, recently switched his vote from Jordan to James. Graham, who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs, shared his perspective on the debate, stating that Jordan was the GOAT when he played for him because he paid Graham’s salary. However, once Graham was traded and no longer played for Jordan, he began to view James as the greatest of all time. Jordan still remains a minority owner of the Hornets after giving up his majority stake in the team last year.
Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the GOAT title, the future of LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers remains uncertain. After an early exit from the playoffs, James has been noncommittal about his future with the team as he potentially wraps up his final season with the Lakers. As the debate between Jordan and James continues to captivate NBA fans, both players have left an indelible mark on the league with their impressive accomplishments and contributions to the game of basketball. Whether Jordan or James ultimately earns the title of the greatest of all time remains to be seen, but their impact on the sport will be remembered for years to come.
