The conversation around Michael Jordan and LeBron James continues to be one of the most polarizing debates in basketball. Comparisons between the two legends span statistics, championships, leadership styles, and cultural influence. Recently, I shared my perspective on the Basketball Society Podcast with Martin Soaries about where their relationship stands and how it could evolve in the future.
“I think Michael and LeBron’s conversations will enhance more when LeBron is towards the end, which could happen sooner rather than later,” I said on the show. “A lot of people feel like LeBron was chasing Michael’s ghost, which was part of the reason why LeBron never joined the Chicago Bulls.”
For years fans and analysts have pointed out how LeBron was often viewed through the lens of Jordan’s greatness. From the moment he entered the NBA as “The Chosen One,” comparisons followed him. The pursuit of Jordan’s six titles and the desire to surpass his global impact were recurring storylines throughout LeBron’s career. Yet the idea that their personal conversations are limited because of competition sparked a strong response from someone who knows Michael Jordan very well.
Ron Harper, a five-time NBA champion who played alongside Jordan during the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat, weighed in on the subject after my comments circulated on social media. Harper’s response was blunt and direct: “MJ wouldn’t give a shit about this BS. He never cared for the GOAT talk and anything else.”
That response reflects what many who played with or against Jordan have long believed. The narrative of the “GOAT” debate was built more by media and fans than by Jordan himself. For Jordan, the focus was on winning and competing, not on chasing titles to secure a place in history books against hypothetical future stars.
“Comparatively, when you look at LeBron and Michael, there’s just so much being compared and contrasted,” I added during the podcast. “When you’re no longer seen as a threat, LeBron could win two more championships, whether in Los Angeles, whether he signs somewhere else, or whether he gets traded. LeBron’s story is still being written. You don’t want to give your competitor any type of advice to chase me, meaning Michael.”
Those comments addressed the natural dynamic between two all-time greats whose careers overlap in conversation if not in playing years. My point was simple: while LeBron continues to compete at a high level, Jordan has little incentive to extend mentorship or strategic advice. Legends of the game often wait until a player’s career is closing before opening up fully. Harper’s take, however, makes it clear that Jordan’s mindset has always been different.
From Harper’s perspective, Jordan never framed his career through the GOAT lens. The obsession with rankings belongs to fans and analysts. That detachment is part of what makes Jordan’s legacy unique. He dominated his era, collected six championships, and walked away from the game satisfied with what he accomplished.
LeBron’s career, meanwhile, is still unfolding. With championships in Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles, his story spans different eras and playing styles. He has carried expectations since high school and has remained the face of the league for two decades. The pursuit of Jordan’s ghost, as I mentioned, was always in the background, but Harper’s words remind us that for Michael, the so-called ghost may not exist at all.
Appearing on the Scoop B Radio Podcast earlier this year, former NBA All Star Jayson Williams shared that during a game of golf with he, Charles Oakley and MJ, his airness has kept close tabs on James and has no animosity. “Different eras,” Williams told me. “We played golf about five months ago, and he said, ‘LeBron James could play in ANY era.’”
But when pressed on who would win in a one-on-one matchup, Williams didn’t hesitate.
“I’m taking the killer! I’m taking MJ. Yeah, it’s going to be a close score. They’re two of the best that ever did it. But that boy is strong, you know? LeBron is STRONG. But if I say MJ, LeBron might get mad, and if I say LeBron, Michael and Charles Oakley are going to get mad. I can’t win this one! I’ve been in enough trouble in my life!”
The conversation about Michael Jordan and LeBron James will never truly end. Every generation wants to define its greatest player. My comments on the Basketball Society Podcast were made with the understanding that LeBron is still writing his story while Jordan’s is cemented. Harper’s rebuttal adds another layer by insisting that Jordan himself does not care about the narratives others create.
Interestingly, earlier this year, Harper who has the distinction of being Bulls teammates with MJ and Lakers teammates with Kobe Bryant teammates, brilliantly discussed similarities between His Airness and the Black Mamba. “MJ and Kobe are going to try and go out and destroy every competition that you have and who you are,” he told me.
“They’re going to go out and seek and destroy you. That’s how competitive they are.”
Harper, a native from the great state of Ohio just like LeBron James then weighed in on how LeBron stacks up in that category with MJ and Kobe “LeBron is a great player,” said Harper. “And as far as that competitive build, I don’t know if he’s more competitive as MJ and Kobe are.”
In many ways, that contrast between perception and reality is what keeps the debate alive. Fans will continue to argue LeBron versus Jordan. Analysts will continue to measure rings, MVPs, and moments. Yet when Ron Harper speaks about Michael Jordan’s mindset, it carries weight. He was in the locker room, on the floor, and in the huddles. If Harper says Jordan never cared for the GOAT talk, then perhaps the rest of us are chasing shadows while Michael has already moved on.
