NBA legend says 'it's time to stop this' after violating LeBron James' GOAT debate credentials with Michael Jordan stat

The debate over who is the greatest basketball player of all time usually comes down to two names: Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Over his 15-year professional basketball career, Jordan won six NBA titles, five Most Valuable Player awards. six Finals MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year award and 10 scoring titles.

The iconic shooting guard was also named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times, the All-Defensive First Team nine times and earned 14 All-Star selections.

James, who turned 40 in December, is now in his 22nd NBA season. The Los Angeles Lakers star has won four titles, four MVPs, four Finals MVP and holds the record as the NBA's all-time highest scorer.

Michael Jordan and LeBron James are widely regarded as the two best basketball players of all time. (Image: Getty)

Across spells with the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and now with the Lakers, he has made the All-NBA First Team 11 times, the All-Defensive First Team five times and has been named an All-Star a staggering 21 times.

Charles Barkley was a contemporary of Jordan's during the Chicago Bulls icon's peak. The pair both entered the NBA in the 1984 draft and they played together on the US 'Dream Team' at the 1992 Olympics before facing off in the NBA Finals the following year, with Jordan's Bulls overcoming Barkley – who was the league's MVP that season – and the Phoenix Suns in seven games.

And the former Philadelphia 76ers and Suns power forward is tired of LeBron being considered alongside Jordan in the debate over who should be considered the greatest NBA player of all time.

"He's second in 30-point games now with 559. MJ's got 562," said Earnie Johnson, the host of Inside the NBA, the TNT show on which Barkley stars alongside Shaquille O'Neal as an entertaining and outspoken analyst.

"See, Earnie, that's an amazing stat," Barkley responded. "I don't get into debates about greatness. So LeBron has played how many more seasons that Michael Jordan? And he's still behind him. That's crazy.

"Listen, I love LeBron. But for him to be that far behind MJ and played probably eight more seasons – come on, man. Y'all need to stop this. Come on, man. Stop that."