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Michael Jordan and LeBron James interact after the presentation of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team on February 20, 2022<\/p>\n
Legendary boxer Mike Tyson<\/a> has weighed in on the ongoing debate regarding the NBA\u2019s greatest player of all time: Michael Jordan<\/a> or LeBron James<\/a>?<\/p>\n During his appearance on \u201cThe Big Podcast with Shaq,\u201d Tyson was asked to pick between James and Jordan.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a Jordan guy,\u201d he said without hesitation.<\/p>\n When asked about the G.O.A.T. of boxing, Tyson said, \u201cMe.\u201d<\/p>\n The 59-year-old justified his reasoning.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not being egotistical, okay? They said they know if you put up the statistics or something. Ask the world,\u201d Tyson declared.<\/p>\n MJ versus LeBron Debate<\/p>\n The never-ending debate intensified in the 2016 NBA Finals when James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome a 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors, securing his hometown franchise its first major sports title in 52 years.<\/a> Four years later, James added another tremendous accolade to his resume by becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams when he guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the championship in the Orlando Bubble, bringing them their 17th franchise title.<\/p>\n Yet, the Jordan loyalists have continued to make a case for the retired Chicago Bulls star as the greatest pro basketball player in history. Phil Jackson, who coached Jordan to six NBA titles, is among those who oppose the idea of James as the G.O.A.T.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter is only about championships, I think that\u2019s the only measurement that\u2019s left for LeBron that\u2019ll say he was a better ball player than Michael,\u201d Jackson said<\/a> back in 2013 when asked about the James versus Jordan debate.\u00a0\u201cAnd people are going to argue it is the number of championships you win and that\u2019s proof of the pudding right there.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael Jordan Voted G.O.A.T<\/p>\n Popular sports website Bleacher Report also ranked Jordan above James in their top-100 players of all-time list<\/a> published on July 14, 2025. However, the website noted that many of its staff members voted for James, and that the final voting tally was close.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a cultural standpoint, nobody ever meant more to basketball than MJ. From his signature shoe, to becoming the sport\u2019s most elite competitor, Jordan established a blueprint for the NBA superstars who followed him.<\/p>\n \u201cVirtually every alpha in the modern era pulled something from Jordan. Kobe Bryant cribbed MJ\u2019s work ethic and on-court demeanor. LeBron James borrowed the image cultivation and marketing savvy.<\/p>\n \u201cAs for B\/R\u2019s No. 1 all-time spot, there\u2019s an argument for James and his superior scoring efficiency, passing and longevity. After all, LeBron nearly grabbed the top spot in our rankings. But MJ never lost on the biggest stage, and he felt pretty close to god-like in his prime.\u201d<\/p>\n TOP 100 NBA PLAYERS OF ALL TIME\ud83d\udc10<\/p>\n 1\ufe0f\u20e3 MJ2\ufe0f\u20e3 LeBron3\ufe0f\u20e3 Kareem4\ufe0f\u20e3 Magic5\ufe0f\u20e3 Russell6\ufe0f\u20e3\u00a0Shaq7\ufe0f\u20e3 Duncan8\ufe0f\u20e3 Bird9\ufe0f\u20e3 Wilt\ud83d\udd1f Steph11 Kobe12 Hakeem13 KD14 Oscar15 West16 KG17 Joki\u010718 Dirk19 David Robinson20 Dr J<\/p>\n FULL\u00a0B\/R STAFF\u00a0RANKINGS HERE: https:\/\/t.co\/P8hSoAoE1R<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kq47DdXzYC<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \u2014 Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Many analysts believe James can close the gap on Jordan if he can secure his fifth NBA championship. The Los Angeles Lakers star will get another opportunity to do so in the 2025-26 season, when he pairs up with Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, Austin Reaves, DeAndre Ayton, and Co., on a loaded roster full of veterans and proven players.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSai Mohan<\/a> covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Lakers\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t![\"\u25b6\ufe0f\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/512.png=s64.png\")
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