Michael Jordan names the two players he feels are 'disrespected' whenever he's called the GOAT

Michael Jordan is frequently hailed as basketball’s GOAT - but the man himself named two other NBA stars he feels are ‘disrespected’ in the debate.

MJ is often labelled as basketball’s greatest player of all time thanks to his illustrious career on the court, much of which was spent in a legendary spell with the Chicago Bulls.

The now 62-year-old was crowned NBA Champion on six occasions, all of which were won with the Bulls.

Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP six times and was crowned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on five occasions in a career with the Bulls and the Washington Wizards in its latter stages.

Jordan is more than deserving to be a contender as the NBA’s GOAT, as well as fellow modern day legends including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

However, that does not include players who plied their trade on the basketball court before these legends of the past 30 years.

Jordan himself was very much aware of this fact and when the man himself was once asked if he felt he was the greatest basketball player of all time, MJ believed this disrespected two players in particular from before his time who he never had the chance to face on the court.

And the players he named were Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West.

Speaking back in 2009 via CBS Sports, Jordan said: “I don't want it in a sense because I think it disrespects Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West -- you know all the guys that prior to me I never had a chance to play against.

“What everybody is saying I am, I never had the chance to compete against other legends that was prior to me.

“When I hear it, I cringe a little bit because it's a little bit embarrassing because no one knows. I never had the chance to, once again, to play against those guys.

“I would love to have played against them but I never did. And for you to say that I'm better than him ... I mean it's your opinion; it's their opinion. I accept that as their opinion.

“If you ask me, I would never say that I am the greatest player. That's because I never played against all the people that represented the league prior to Michael Jordan.”

Michael Jordan picked two NBA legends who came before him. Image: Getty

Chamberlain became NBA Champion twice in 1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers and in 1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

West meanwhile became an NBA Champion along with Chamberlain as a teammate at the Lakers in 1972.