Since stepping foot in the NBA over two decades ago, LeBron James has regularly been brought up in connection to Michael Jordan. Fans recently had a field day online after comments surfaced about him not chasing the NBA icon.
When it comes to the GOAT debate, LeBron and MJ are the two players that fans, players and analysts are constantly debating. According to the LA Lakers forward, he never saw it that way. While talking about Jordan, LeBron said he knew at 17 that he could be the first of his kind instead of the second coming of another player.
"Summer of my junior going into senior year, I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and they had dubbed me the Chosen One" LeBron said. "I think at that moment around 17 I knew I could be LeBron. Not Jordan, not Penny."
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Following these remarks, NBA fans flooded the comment section accusing him of lying.
Despite all he's accomplished in his two-decade long run in the NBA, many argue that LeBron James is still chasing Jordan to surpass him as the GOAT.
LeBron James praised Michael Jordan leading up to his NBA debut
LeBron James might claim that he knew that young he could blaze his own path, but he cannot deny his admiration of Michael Jordan. Last year, some of his old comments were dug up praising "His Airness."
In his diary for "SLAM" magazine in 2002, LeBron touched on Jordan's return to the NBA for a second time. He was amazed at the numbers he was still putting up in his late 30s.
After being retired for three years, Jordan decided to come back and play for the Washington Wizards in 2002. He appeared in 60 games that season and averaged 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists. MJ went on to spend one more year with the Wizards after this before retiring for a third and final time.
LeBron James might claim he never felt he was chasing Jordan now, but his older comments say otherwise. His actions also speak volumes as he's managed a similar mix of longevity and dominance.
Just like Jordan, LeBron has played into his late 30s. Next season, the LA Lakers star will be older than MJ was when he officially hung it up for good. Just like his old idol, he's continued to be one of the game's top players as he gets older.
Jordan only averaged 20 PPG in his age 39 season, but LeBron managed to top that. In 71 games for the Lakers, he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists.
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