Magic Johnson didn't hesitate when picking between Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the NBA GOAT debate

NBA legend Magic Johnson made his feelings clear on the debate between who is the best out of LeBron James and Michael Jordan and crowning basketball's GOAT.

James and Jordan are among two of the greatest players to ever set foot on a basketball court and the discussion rages about who is the greatest player of all time in NBA history.

Both men have the credentials to fit that description.

James is still playing despite reaching the age of 40 and also recently moved past Jordan in one key aspect of NBA history.

He has become the first player in NBA history to have multiple 40+ point games aged 40 and above.

James is a four-time NBA champion and has represented the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and his current side the Los Angeles Lakers.

He has also been named the NBA Finals MVP on four occasions, and the NBA's overall MVP four times.

But standing in his way in the GOAT debate is the legendary figure of Jordan, who has now been retired for more than 20 years but his appeal lives on to this day.

Most of the now 62-year-old's career on the basketball court was spent with the Chicago Bulls, then latterly with the Washington Wizards in the closing stages for the last two years.

LeBron James and Michael Jordan. (Image: Getty)

The six-time NBA Champion enjoyed a memorable spell with the Bulls as he was named the MVP in the NBA Finals a total of six times.

Johnson played his entire career with the LA Lakers and was crowned an NBA champion on five occasions during the 1980s, also being named the NBA Finals MVP and the NBA's MVP three times each.

Speaking a few years ago on the Dan Patrick Show, Johnson made it clear that though he felt that was a possibility that James could surpass Jordan, for him the GOAT would always be MJ.

He said: "LeBron is special, and I don’t want people always getting mad— we’ve got to celebrate both guys, Michael is the best, and we should celebrate him and celebrate LeBron.

"I hate when people get mad at you when you take one or the other. We should just say ‘hey, Michael is special’, and he’s the best to me because he never lost in the NBA Finals and he averaged over 30 points a game.

"The guy is just unbelievable. LeBron is special too in his own right too, and people shouldn’t forget that either, but when it’s all said and done, if you come at me and ask me, that’s who I am going to with and it’s MJ."