Michael Jordan in flight

Praise for LeBron and Kobe

While pushing back against the debate, Jordan praised modern stars including LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant for their impact on the game.

Jordan said James has had an “unbelievable career” and that players from the current era have continued to elevate basketball. 

He also noted that today’s stars built on the foundation laid by earlier generations of players.

“We paved the way for the Kobes and the LeBrons,” Jordan said, adding that each era pushes the sport forward. 

Jordan rejects the GOAT label

Jordan explained that comparing players from different eras overlooks how the game evolves over time.

“The whole GOAT term is never going to be something that I ever get high or low about,” he said. “It just doesn’t exist with me.” 

The six-time NBA champion noted that he never competed directly against earlier legends like Oscar Robertson or Jerry West, making comparisons across generations inherently flawed. 

A debate that may never end

The GOAT debate has long divided fans and analysts, with many comparing Jordan’s dominance with the Chicago Bulls— including six NBA championships — to the longevity and statistical achievements of James.

Jordan, however, believes such comparisons ultimately miss the bigger picture.

He argued that trying to rank players across eras can create unnecessary tension and overlooks the contributions of other historic greats. 

Instead, Jordan said the evolution of basketball should be seen as a continuous process where each generation builds on the last — making the idea of a single greatest player impossible to prove.