Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James made it clear he considers himself the top choice in any discussion about the greatest basketball player ever. Speaking to Time Magazine, the 41-year-old veteran said he would not pick anyone ahead of himself in an all-time draft.
“I’m not taking nobody over me,” James told the publication. “If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
James added that other NBA legends would probably answer the same way when asked about their own place in history, mentioning Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The comments were published after James scored on a first-quarter dunk against the Orlando Magic on March 21, 2026, at Kia Center in Orlando. Now in his 23rd NBA season, he remains one of the league’s top performers.
James declined to say whether he might accept a reduced salary to remain with the Lakers next season, leaving his contract plans unresolved.
Source: Lakers Nation
