As his 23rd NBA season nears its close, LeBron James told ESPN he has never tried to measure himself against Michael Jordan because, in his view, their styles “are totally different.” The remarks were part of a series of in-season interviews published Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
James, listed at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, contrasted his point-forward approach with the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Jordan’s scoring mindset. “I’ve always looked for the pass,” he said, adding that Jordan “looked for the shot.”
Although he believes some elements of his own game surpass Jordan’s, James stressed that both players “were great basketball players.” He praised Jordan’s mid-range accuracy, post moves and relentless will to win—traits he studied while growing up in Akron, Ohio, and while wearing No. 23 in homage to the former Chicago Bulls star.
At 41, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer called the greatest-of-all-time discussion “barbershop talk” that has become exhausting. “You can love both of us without tearing the other down,” he said, noting that criticism usually targets him.
James also addressed his 4-6 record in NBA Finals appearances, often compared unfavorably with Jordan’s 6-0 mark. Early in his career, he admitted, losing on the game’s biggest stage bothered him more than missing the playoffs. Now, he says he values the feat of reaching 10 Finals, pointing out he was the fastest player to reach 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 career points.
Even so, he remains motivated by the standards Jordan set. “I dreamed of hitting a game-winner as the clock went down, having my own sneaker, hearing fans shout my name,” James said. “I needed that inspiration.”
Source: ESPN
