Will the GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James ever end? Well, it seems that it won’t be anytime soon. After all, both have a lot of accomplishments under their belt. Who will you pick? Jordan with six championships, five MVPs, and a perfect Finals record? Or LeBron, who is the all-time leading scorer with over 50,000 points, along with four titles and four MVPs? If they had been from the same era, things could’ve been different. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. But the two have shared the same hardwood at one time! And Antoine Walker walked through how the moment transpired.
Recently, LeBron made a huge revelation. How huge? It’s game-changing! During a podcast, LeBron recalled playing in a pick-up game with NBA veterans in 2001. He described it as nerve-wracking, but exciting. When the host asked, “Who guarded you?“, LeBron said, “Nobody, I was unguardable.” According to him, he held his own against some of the best players in the league. Bold claims, right? This claim, along with a video that has gone viral recently, which is allegedly about him dunking on Jordan, has shocked the hoop world. So how do we fact-check his claims? Luckily, a 3× NBA All-Star is here with the answers.
Former NBA star Antoine Walker, who was there, had a different perspective. While he acknowledged LeBron’s potential, he pushed back on the idea that the 16-year-old was unstoppable. “Well, he wasn’t unguardable,” Walker said. He quickly pointed out, “That wasn’t the case.” He explained that Jordan’s trainer, Tim Grover, controlled who played first, prioritizing paying clients. Because of that, LeBron didn’t get much court time early on. “So when LeBron came in… Tim wasn’t going to let him play over guys that were paying clients.”
Mar 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the New York Knicks during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Antoine Walker also pointed out that Chicago had a stacked group of pros at the time. “We had Q Richardson, Bobby Simmons, Darius Miles, the Bulls players, Michael Finley, Juwan Howard, myself,” he said. He admitted that LeBron showed flashes of greatness, but he wasn’t dominating like he claimed. “One thing that is true, he was able to hold his own, but you know how it is when them first five or six games where the runs are intense and you’re going at it, he wasn’t a part of those.” He added. Without footage of the game, the truth remains up for debate. At this point, it’s just Lebron’s words against Walker’s; maybe with time, the truth will come out. Speaking of the debate, what are MJ’s takes on it?
What are Michael Jordan’s quotes on the goat debate?
The GOAT debate in basketball has raged on for decades. At first, the conversation centered around Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, two legends who dominated the 1980s. Then, Michael Jordan entered the league and changed everything. For years, he was the undisputed greatest — until LeBron James emerged. Now, fans are divided, each generation favoring the player they grew up watching.
Jordan himself acknowledges this shift. In a 2020 interview with Cigar Aficionado, he explained, “In essence, it’s all related to who is watching now.” He understands that in 20 years, younger fans might favor LeBron simply because of recency bias. However, he doesn’t let it define him. “I don’t showcase it. I don’t rub it in other people’s faces,” he added.
Many younger fans never witnessed Jordan’s dominance—his six championships, six Finals MVPs, or his relentless will to win. Instead, they grew up watching LeBron and Stephen Curry battle in the NBA Finals, shaping their perception of greatness.
Interestingly, back in 2019, when he was asked about which player he would rather play one-on-one, Jordan was ready with his answer. He stated, “I’d go against Stephen Curry because I’m a little bit bigger than him, so I could back him in. But LeBron’s a little bit too big.” Now you would think that this shows his lack of confidence in going against LeBron. But that is far from the truth. When asked if he could beat LeBron in his prime, his response was confident: “No question.”
Jordan’s comments show that while the GOAT debate will continue, perspective plays a major role. One thing remains certain — mutual respect among legends never fades.
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