While the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan GOAT debate continues to be a barbershop staple, the four-time NBA champion once famously believed he was the greatest of all time.
James considered himself to be the best in the business after he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to an epic comeback win against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. It’s worth noting that the Warriors were on a clinical run, finishing their regular season with a dominant 73-9 record. However, James and the Cavs bounced back despite being down 3-1 in the finals.
‘That’s What I Felt’: LeBron James Reveals How He Believed He Was the GOAT
Speaking on ESPN’s “More Than An Athlete” series, James explained why he believed he considered himself the GOAT. “That one right there made me the greatest player of all time … that’s what I felt,” he said.
“I was super, super ecstatic to win one for Cleveland because of the 52-year drought. … The first wave of emotion was when everyone saw me crying, like, that was all for 52 years of everything in sports that’s gone on in Cleveland. And then after I stopped, I was like — that one right there made you the greatest player of all time.”
James added that the attention on the Warriors made it more special. “I was like, ‘You did, you did something special.’ That’s probably one of the only times in my career I felt like, oh, s**t, like you did something special.’ I haven’t had, really had time, to, like, sit back and think, but that … that was a moment.”
“That one right there made me the greatest player of all time. That’s what I felt.”
— Throwback to LeBron saying he thought defeating the 73-9 Warriors made him the greatest player of all-time.
(via @uninterrupted)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 17, 2025
The 40-year-old has long been the player compared to Jordan in the longstanding GOAT debate. It’s well-documented that James respects the former Chicago Bulls legend and that he wears No. 23 because of Jordan. However, fans still look at the latter’s five MVP awards to James’ four and six rings to James’ four.
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On the season front, James will hope that year number 23 works in his favour as he looks to win his fifth championship alongside the franchise’s future superstar, Luka Dončić.
Despite rumors of the veteran forward asking for a trade, James is expected to stay in the Lakers’ fold as they look to better their playoff run from last season. It remains to be seen if James and Dončić can lead LA to the promised land in their first full season together.
