Ever since LeBron James climbed to the top of the NBA mountain, he has often been compared to one of, if not the greatest, players of all time, Michael Jordan.
For a while now, James and Jordan fans have been arguing over who’s the better player. It’s gotten to the point that their respective fan bases would go to social media war.
Because of the impact both players have, reporters still tend to ask figures from the NBA. In a recent interview with Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, he was asked about his take on the James and Jordan GOAT debate.
JJ Redick Says There’s No GOAT Debate Between LeBron James and Michael Jordan
When it comes to the NBA fan base, it’s natural for them to have their own favorite player. Throughout the sport’s history, many talented players have come and gone. However, two players who have significantly impacted basketball are James and Jordan.
Because of their greatness on the court, it’s been difficult for basketball fans to decide who the absolute greatest of all time is. However, in the eyes of Lakers head coach Redick, there shouldn’t be a debate between the two legends.
In a recent interview with Redick, he believes that there shouldn’t be a comparison between LeBron and Mike. This is because they played in two different eras of basketball. Both have been dominant in their respective era, making them the GOATs of their time.
With that said, Redick thinks James and Jordan are on par with each other in terms of the GOAT debate.
“I’ve always said that the greatest players in any era would be great in any era,” Redick said. “It’s hard to compare eras and play styles. To me, it’s even harder to compare stats. Jordan is 1, LeBron is 1; Jordan is 2, LeBron is 2. However, you want to do it, to me, they’re the two greatest players of all time.”
“I think the biggest thing is just that you hear stories about how LeBron compares,” Redick continued. “Now, being around him the last year and a half, he’s a maniac… I said the other night, (LeBron) is the perfect example for any basketball player of how to approach their career. That’s the reason he’s been able to do it for so long and do it at such a high level.”
“It’s hard to compare eras and play styles. … Jordan is 1, LeBron is 1; Jordan is 2, LeBron is 2. However you want to do it, to me, they’re the two greatest players of all time” – JJ Redick on the NBA GOAT debate, with the Lakers in Chicago pic.twitter.com/mQPZOTtL8s
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 27, 2026
True enough, LeBron has earned his merits. Aside from his stacked résumé, James has proven to be one of the best players of all time, simply because of his longevity and his ability to maintain his elite level of play over the years.
The King is now playing in his 23rd season and is the longest-playing player in NBA history. What’s even more impressive is that his numbers are still on par with some of the younger stars of today, averaging 22.3 points, 6.9 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game.
