Bill Laimbeer Says LeBron – Not MJ – NBA's Best Ever

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It's a debate that may never be settled: MJ or LeBron? 

But if you ask former Pistons star Bill Laimbeer, the answer is clear. 

"I'm very vocal, I think LeBron is the best player who has ever played the game," Laimbeer said Tuesday on ESPN's First Take. He's 6-foot-8, 285 pounds, runs like the wind, jumps out of the gym.

"And more importantly, when he came in the league from Day 1, he knew how to involve his teammates to win. That's something Jordan had to learn for a long time." 

Laimbeer and the Bad Boys knocked Jordan and the Bulls out of the playoffs in consecutive seasons from 1988-90. The Bulls finally broke through in the 1991 conference finals, triggering a run of three straight championships. Laimbeer said Chicago was a "one-man show" before Jordan learned to play a more team-oriented game.

It should be noted it took LeBron nine years to win his first title, versus seven for Jordan. And Jordan has the ultimate trump card with six titles to LeBron's three. 

"Now if you go by championships, obviously Michael Jordan has more championships," said Laimbeer. "But I think LeBron in any generation would be doing what he's doing right now all these years. At the end of the day, I firmly believe he's the best basketball player in the history of the game." 

"I firmly believe that [LeBron James> is the best basketball player in the history of the game."Former "Bad Boy" Piston, and Michael Jordan opponent, Bill Laimbeer. pic.twitter.com/9aTQgnW3n4

— First Take (@FirstTake) April 14, 2020