The debate over who is basketball's GOAT will likely rage on until the end of time but one former NBA star has explained a key reason why Michael Jordan will always be regarded the best ahead of LeBron James.
Many would say Jordan sits top of the pile in the GOAT debate - and with good reason when his achievements on the court are taken into consideration.
The six-time NBA Champion enjoyed a memorable spell with the Chicago Bulls as he was crowned the MVP in the NBA Finals a total of six times.
He was also named the NBA's Most Valuable Player overall on five instances after playing for the Bulls and the Washington Wizards in a remarkable career on the basketball court.
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The 61-year-old's appeal stretched beyond the basketball court as it extended into sportswear with his Nike Air Jordan trainers, as well as to Hollywood with the 1996 film Space Jam and became the focus of Emmy-winning documentary series The Last Dance in 2020 on Netflix.
James is worthy of a place in the GOAT debate too thanks to his career achievements.
He has become NBA champion four times thanks to spells with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the LA Lakers, we well as being crowned NBA Finals MVP on a quartet of occasions.
James also has three Olympic gold medals with the US national basketball team with triumphs at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Paris 2024.
Jordan is a two-time Olympic champion with gold medals from Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992.
One former NBA star whose career spanned around the same time as Jordan but retired before James was Muggsy Bogues, whose career included time with the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors.
And Bogues has explained one big reason why he feels Jordan is the GOAT ahead of James - as he feels the latter has a weakness when it comes to free-throw shooting.
Speaking to Bolavip, he said: "LeBron can’t shoot free throws. I’m not saying he can’t hit free throws but he’s not a great free-throw shooter.
"When it comes to the game of basketball, that’s what separates MJ and LeBron, in terms of skill set. Michael didn’t have any deficiencies in his game, fundamentally.
"LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play this game, longevity-wise, and statistically, but in terms of skill set, I’ll always give it to Jordan. MJ was a killer; LeBron is nothing like him."
Topics: NBA, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Basketball
John McDougall