The title of “greatest basketball player of all time” is always going to be up for debate.
Michael Jordan is who many people point to, but LeBron James has more than entered the conversation over the course of his 20-year career.
Longtime NBA coach Dwane Casey, who coached against both MJ and LeBron, gave his answer to the question while appearing on the Audacy Original Podcast "Restore the Floor".
“You had two sets of rules,” Casey said. “I have to say this with a qualifier. If you put Michael Jordan in today’s game where you couldn’t touch him, unbelievable. I have to say Michael Jordan with LeBron a close second because LeBron impacts the game in so many ways. He’s so big. He’s so strong. He became so skilled.”
Casey pointed out that LeBron has continued to improve his game since entering the league 20 years ago. That’s not something that Jordan had to do.
“He wasn’t skilled coming into the league but he put so much work in that he became a great ballhandler, a great passer, a great mid-range, an above-average three-point shooter,” Casey continued. “Where you can’t say that about Mike because he didn’t have to. The rules weren’t the same. So I think you have to measure that but I would say Michael Jordan, knowing his work ethic, how he would’ve adapted to today’s rules.”
MJ and LeBron are undoubtedly the best players of their respective eras but the question of who is the GOAT will continue to be debated.
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