The NBA GOAT debate will go on till the end of time. While those who stan Michael Jordan will consider NBA championships to be the ultimate indicator of success, fans of LeBron James will point towards his all-time scoring record and longevity. They also point to James making eight consecutive NBA Finals, and once that streak ended in 2019, he returned to the promised land in 2020.
As the debate rages on, it sometimes becomes unclear to fans that these players share the utmost respect and admiration for each other. James gave a glimpse of just that on the season finale of his “Mind The Game” podcast. And he did it in his usual hilarious fashion.
‘Nobody More Inspiring to Me Than Michael Jordan’ – James
In a teaser for the upcoming season finale of the podcast, James was seen showing his admiration for Jordan, even claiming that the two would fit well together.
“When you talk about inspiration, there was nobody more inspiring to me than Michael Jordan. I mean you know, for me I think our games would have complemented as well,” said the four-time NBA champion. “MJ was a flat-out scorer. You know, he was a scorer, scorer, scorer. He had a scorer’s mentality.”
Nobody was a bigger inspiration to @KingJames than MJ.
This season’s finale LIVE from Fanatics Fest drops tomorrow at 9am. Subscribe to our YouTube: https://t.co/t2qZT2w4vV pic.twitter.com/FGNqD4D1FN
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) July 14, 2025
While MJ and Bron will inevitably remain in competition due to their esteemed legacies in the game, James undoubtedly respects those who came before him. You could even say James’ claim that he and Jordan would gel together is highly accurate. Although James is a phenomenal scorer, he has often admitted to enjoying passing more and has displayed a flurry of passes across his 22-year-long NBA career.
On the other hand, Jordan was a flat-out scorer, something the late great Kobe Bryant got from him. However, James admitted that his appreciation for Jordan will not be taken in the way he meant it due to the nature of social media.
“If I had to pick him, but I know I can’t pick him because I know how social media works. You motherf– going to be like, oh, you want to play with Michael Jordan too? You can play with everybody else. I didn’t ask the question. I’m only answering it guys.” James said as he smiled.
James’ “Mind The Game” podcast has quickly become one of the most appreciated shows by basketball minds worldwide. The series, which was originally started alongside now-Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick, now features former NBA MVP Steve Nash as Redick landed his first coaching position.
With the offseason in full swing, James can thoroughly enjoy two things he loves: basketball and wine. Both of these are highly appreciated on the podcast. However, with the second season of the popular podcast ending, James will likely shift his focus to the NBA offseason and pursuit of his fifth ring.
