Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he is exhausted by the conversation that continually pits him against Michael Jordan for the unofficial title of greatest basketball player of all time.
“It’s barbershop talk,” James said, adding that fans should be able to admire both players without disparaging either one. He also noted that the criticism typically lands on him, but said he hopes he has “made [Jordan] proud” while wearing the No. 23 jersey they share.
The four-time NBA champion pushed back on how his Finals record is used against him. James pointed out that he reached eight consecutive NBA Finals yet often hears that winning only three during that span diminishes the accomplishment. “People would rather you miss the playoffs or lose in the first round than lose in the Finals, which is crazy to me,” he said.
James acknowledged differences between his game and Jordan’s, conceding that each has strengths the other may not share. “There are a lot of things that MJ did better than I do, and there are some things I do better than him,” he remarked.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer wrapped up the topic by describing himself as “1 of 1,” while calling both players “great basketball players” and indicating he is no longer interested in settling the debate.
Source: Hoops Wire
