When LeBron James declared Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever with a weird analogy: “[He] is like a dad”

LeBron James is one of the greatest players to play in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers forward is mostly considered the second-best player in the league's history, right after Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls legend.

James is still chasing Jordan and may end up being the greatest player of all time when all is said and done. Before LeBron entered the league, he was often asked about MJ, and in one of his interviews, James compared the basketball legend to a dad.

"Michael Jordan is like a dad," LeBron James told the Associated Press. "If Michael Jordan is going to tell anybody to do something -- the players, the media, the coaches -- you should do it. Simple as that."

James said this just a few months before getting drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. Unfortunately, Jordan decided to retire this same year.

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LeBron James considered Michael Jordan the GOAT

Long before he entered the NBA, LeBron James was compared to Michael Jordan. When James was in high school, Jordan enjoyed his second retirement before returning to the league and playing for two more years.

Despite not going to college, the basketball star established himself as the greatest young player in the nation. Due to this, the Cavaliers made the right choice by selecting him with the first overall pick.

LeBron is the second-best player in the history of the league (Image via Getty Images)

The Associated Press had an interview with LeBron in April 2003, just two months before the 2003 NBA draft. In the interview, the talented young player admitted that Jordan was the greatest of all time.

"Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever and ... if anybody in the world can criticize somebody, it can be Michael Jordan," James said. "There's no way I'm going to get mad at Michael Jordan criticizing me."

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After praising the Chicago Bulls legend, LeBron compared him to a dad, which was very unusual. James grew up without his father, and while this did not affect his growth as a basketball player, that may have been the reason for the comment.

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Michael Jordan's final season

Jordan came out of retirement for the second time to play for the Washington Wizards. In his final season with the team, the shooting guard averaged 20 points on 44.5% shooting.

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Despite turning 40 during the 2002-03 season, Jordan still had some impressive performances. Unfortunately, he retired after this season, which is why basketball fans never had a chance to watch him play against LeBron James.

James is currently in his 20th season and will turn 38 in just a few days. While it's almost certain that he will be in the league when he turns 40, the only question is whether or not he will still dominate the court.