The debate for the greatest player in NBA history has been one that has plagued sports conversation for quite some time. For years, the status quo was Michael Jordan at the top of the pyramid. But LeBron James’s success over the course of his historic career has changed that idea to some extent.
Or at least opened the possibility for some. However, a legendary figure from the New York Knicks, who was a key rival of the Chicago Bulls legend, believes there’s no case to be made between the two.
Former New York Knicks Guard John Starks Sides With Michael Jordan Over LeBron James
The resumes are as good as muscle memory by now. Jordan is a 10-time scoring champion, six-time NBA champion, and five-time MVP. James, too, has four titles and four MVPs to his credit, but his case relies on unbreakable longevity.
However, John Starks spent more than a decade in the league after coming in as an undrafted free agent. The majority of that run came with the Knicks, where he made an All-Star appearance and was a ferocious athlete on the court.
During a recent appearance on Men’s Health’s “Strong Talk” podcast, the conversation shifted to the premium topic across basketball. Even as a conference rival, though, John Starks was unmoved in his reverence for Jordan.
“Definitely, Michael. I ain’t going that far. Michael was just different, bro. He was a different animal,” Starks began his argument. “His mentality, his will to overcome anything out there on the court, and he was a very intelligent player on top of it.”
For most people, the docuseries surrounding the Bulls, “The Last Dance,” made it clear that Jordan wasn’t the perfect teammate.
However, Starks believes the legendary shooting guard was the one who pushed his fellow players to be the best versions of themselves.
“Michael made his teammates better because he grew them, he grew Scottie, he grew Horace Grant, he grew BJ Armstrong.” On the other hand, he had some harsh words for the path James followed. “LeBron really didn’t grow nobody. He joined talent.”
He was, of course, referring to the switch James made from the Miami Heat to the Cleveland Cavaliers early in his career. According to Starks, that was the key difference between the two, and why he gave the nod to Jordan over the 41-year-old.
At this point in their careers, it is as good as splitting hairs when comparing two of the all-time greats. For most people, it boils down to personal preference. In Starks’ case, that lands him in the Jordan corner.
