Only six players in NBA history have ever logged as many combined regular-season and playoff points as LeBron James, and Michael Jordan’s scowl at that milestone still lingers in the minds of fans. James eclipsed the 50,000-point mark in March 2025, yet when an NFL legend put him on the same pedestal as Jordan at Canton’s Hall of Fame event, MJ’s comeback was so telling that it went viral.
In the latest segment of the Thanalysis Show, former NFL player LeRoy Butler made an appearance. Those who know the legend know that he is a big fan of James. Coincidentally, just last year, he had a chance to meet the other half of the GOAT debate, MJ, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame event. Michael Jordan and his wife, Yvette Prieto, were present at the event to support Dwight Freeney. And LeRoy, aware of the chance encounter with MJ, wore a fitting sneakers, gold and white Js with his gold blazer.
Recalling the incident on the show, the NFL legend shared that when he went up to meet MJ, some people (likely fans) shouted out, saying that James is LeRoy’s GOAT. To that, the 56-year-old recounted that Jordan had an interesting response. “I had on some gold and white J’s. You got to read the room. So MJ I go up to him and what they hit him? ‘Hey, MJ LeBron’s Leroy’s GOAT,’ but you know what MJ said? ‘He the only one got on J’s. Y’all ain’t got no J! ‘He said, ‘I like your (Leroy) shoes. Two can be true,” he said.
At Canton, fans still cheered Jordan’s legendary career during his appearance. Julius Peppers who also attended MJ’s alma mater North Carolina and played basketball for the Tar Heels before committing to football had all praise for the legend.
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 25: Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23xi racing and NBA, Basketball Herren, USA legend watching the action on pit road during qualfying for the 2nd annual Ally 400 on June 25, 2022 at Nashville SuperSpeedway in Nashville, TN. Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: JUN 25 NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series – Ally 400 Icon220625928400
Jordan’s influence throughout the sports scene also contributes to his legacy. Even James himself has appreciated the legend. “I wear 23 because of him. To sit here and be in the room and the conversation. Whatever it is, when you mention MJ, it’s just super dope for me being a kid from where I’m from,” he said. That said, the Los Angeles Lakers veteran has also continued to play at the highest level and add records to his name, even at the age of 40. So, it’s understandable why former NBA player Walt Frazier has a different take.
Walt Frazier’s opinion on GOAT Debate
It’s rare to see someone from the 80s or 90s choose James over Jordan, but not impossible. Former NBA player Walt Frazier believes in using criteria to weigh in on debates. And he notes that other former NBA players have claimed the top spot based on different standards, such as Bill Russell with his 11 NBA championship titles, and Oscar Robertson for averaging triple doubles almost throughout his career.
Frazier pointed out that Jordan’s 38 career 50-point games pale next to Wilt Chamberlain’s 118—a record no one else even approaches. As he quipped on the podcast, “Thirty-eight times? Wilt Chamberlain did that like 100 times,” emphasizing Chamberlain’s unrivaled scoring ferocity
For all-around skill, Frazier elevated Oscar Robertson, who remains the only player to average a triple-double for a season (30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 11.4 APG in 1961-62) and amassed 181 career triple-doubles—a mark that stood unmatched for decades.
On championships, Frazier deferred to Bill Russell’s 11 NBA titles, including two as player-coach, as the ultimate barometer of success. Russell’s dominance in the Finals remains a cornerstone of any GOAT discussion.
USA TODAY Sports-Historical Nov 1977 USA FILE PHOTO Cleveland Cavaliers guard Walt Frazier 11 against Milwaukee Bucks forward Junior Bridgeman 2. Unknown Unknown , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMalcolmxEmmonsx 11837676
Frazier acknowledged that **LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined regular-season and playoff points, a milestone reached on March 4, 2025, forged through unprecedented career longevity and consistency.
“Michael Jordan is not the leading scorer in the history of the game, he’s not the winningest player, he’s not the most versatile,” Frazier bluntly stated, challenging the notion that sheer cultural impact equals statistical supremacy. While Jordan did win six championships and led the league in steals three times, he trails in each of Frazier’s four objective categories.
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