Joe Rogan settles the GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James with 'super winner' claim

The debate over who should be considered the greatest basketball player of all time is one that rages among fans of the sport. But as far as Joe Rogan is concerned, it's a simple choice.

Michael Jordan and LeBron James are, far and away, the two players around whom the debate most often centres.

Jordan won six NBA titles and was named the league's Most Valuable Player five times during an illustrious career that peaked in the 1990s.

James, who recently turned 40 and is now playing in his 22nd NBA season, has won four titles and four MVPs, while also writing himself into the history books as the league's all-time leading scorer.

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For many fans and analysts, the debate is close. But Rogan – who discussed the issue with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during an episode of his podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience – believes there is one clear winner in the NBA GOAT stakes.

"Well, he’s a super winner, you know," Rogan said of Jordan. "Those are always really interesting. Anyone who is that driven to be such a winner like you know stands out amongst winners is so exceptional.

"Everyone’s like, 'Who’s the GOAT?' Michael Jordan is always the first pick.

"There is wonder, like, 'How would LeBron ... How would this and that ..." But everyone still says Michael Jordan.

"To be that much of a super winner, you think of all the people playing basketball. All the people around him are world class athletes, professional athletes and he stands out.”

However, as far as Jordan himself is concerned, there are two players he refuses to put himself above in the all-time rankings – not LeBron, but rather Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

"I don’t put myself above them,” said Jordan when speaking to SLAM in 2013.

"I think that we’re all on parallel ground here.

"You know, they educated me about a lot of things about the game, from a team standpoint. So, I can’t put myself above…I mean, people try to, but we played in different eras.

"I had an opportunity to go against them, in the peak of their careers, while I was still young. And I went against them, when I was at the peak of mine, when they was on the other end.

"So it was a passing of trends there, and we never had the opportunity to play against each other in peak years. You know, so it’s hard to say that I’m above them, by no means. I like to consider myself parallel to them."