The GOAT debate in basketball has several contenders in the frame to be called the greatest player of all time - but one former NBA player offered a brutal reason why LeBron James cannot compare to Michael Jordan.
James and Jordan are unquestionably two of the best to have graced a basketball court, and their exploits certainly stand up.
The now-retired Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion following a legendary spell with the Chicago Bulls and as well as winning six NBA titles, he was crowned the MVP in the NBA Finals a total of six times.
He was also named the NBA's Most Valuable Player overall on five instances after playing for the Bulls and the Washington Wizards.
LeBron James attempted to recreate Michael Jordan's iconic eyes-closed free throw.
LeBron James attempted to recreate Michael Jordan's iconic eyes-closed free throw [Credit: NBA]
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Jordan also won gold medals at two Olympics with the United States men's basketball team in Los Angeles in 1984 and Barcelona in 1992, while he even turned down the opportunity to represent his country at the 1996 Games.
In comparison, James, who is still playing with the LA Lakers, has become NBA champion on four occasions with Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers, also being the NBA Finals MVP a quartet of times.
James also has a trio of Olympic gold medals with the United States men's basketball team, the most recent of which was this year in Paris, and followed being on the top step of the rostrum in both Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
Other players who could legitimately feature in this conversation are the late Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
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But one man who believes James is not as good as Jordan was is former NBA player and current head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters, Stephon Marbury.
Taking to social media, Marbury believes James 'shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as MJ'.
It followed an interview Marbury featured on with Scoop B Radio earlier this month, where he made it clear he thinks James is a 'great player' but feels Jordan is top of the tree in the GOAT debate and that the others slot in behind him.
He said: "LeBron’s a great player. Don’t get me wrong. A great, great player. Unbelievable. Amazing.
"But better than Michael Jordan? – it’s not even the same. It’s just different.
"In fact, it needs no explanation or explaining because we can’t talk about Jordan’s game. It’s like we need to talk about what people are not.
“People wanna rank Jordan? Jordan shouldn’t even be ranked. It should be Kobe, then LeBron and then you can pick guys after that.
"There’s just no comparison man. It’s not the same. It’s just different worlds. Different mentalities.
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"I don’t know why Jordan’s name is mentioned in the same conversation sometimes. I’ll clear that up real quick…there’s really no need to talk about that.”
