LeBron James on MJ controversy: ‘Our games are completely different’

as LeBron James Late in his NBA career, he has limited time to bolster his case as basketball’s GOAT over Michael Jordan.

Although that debate may not be settled, James, A Extensive series of interviews During the season with ESPN, Jordan acknowledged the influence on him.

“I hope I at least made him proud at No. 23,” James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound James pointed out the inherent differences between him and Jordan, who was listed at 6-6 and 200 pounds during his playing days.

“I’ve never compared myself to MJ because our games are completely different,” James said. “I’ve been a point-forward/forward-point all my life. I’ve always looked for the pass. MJ was looking for the kind of shot. Not like that, he was looking for the shot.

“There’s a lot of things where I’d say my game is a lot different and a little bit better than his, but he was — great. We’re both great. We’re both great basketball players.”

There are aspects of Jordan’s game that James openly admires.

“There’s a lot of things MJ does better than me,” James said, “and I think there’s a few things I do better than him. That’s just the way the game goes. There’s a lot I can say specifically. You already know how this conversation is going to be (misinterpreted) by people.

“I think I’m one of the guys. I think the way I play the game, I’m a one-man player. And MJ is an incredible basketball player. I think his midrange jump shot was incredible. He did a lot of great things. I grew up analyzing everything about him, how he could rise above the game and get over every post. I think that’s a trait we all wanted him to have.”

James called the whole GOAT thing a “very boring conversation” and “barbershop talk.”

“You can look at both of us and say you love both of us without trying to — on the other person. And usually, that rubs off on me,” James said. “But I know for sure that I have played my part in this journey.”

James former Dr Chicago Bulls Gard inspired him when he was growing up in Akron, Ohio.

“I never thought I could be him, but I dreamed of the opportunity to be in his shoes,” James said. “I dreamed of playing in a big game with the clock ticking and being a game winner. I dreamed of having my own sneakers. I dreamed of flying in the air like him. I dreamed of people screaming my name. That’s all he did. I needed inspiration from certain people in music and sports growing up. I needed it.”

James, 41, also addressed his 4-6 record in the NBA Finals, which is held against him by fans who point to Jordan’s 6-0 mark in the championship round.

“When I was a kid, I had the idea of ​​like, people getting on me for losing the finals, and when I was a kid, I would listen to that,” James said. “Like, people would really rather you not make the playoffs or lose in the first round than lose in the finals, which is crazy to me. And I’m almost like, is that me? Everybody has to say something about my career: ‘Oh, well, he’s been to eight straight finals, but he’s only won three.’ ‘He’s the leading scorer in NBA history, but he’s played 23 years.’

“Yeah, but I’m also the fastest 1,000 (points). Fastest 2,000. Fastest 5,000. Fastest 10,000. So when I started to realize that it was a knock for me, I started to appreciate it a little bit more. Like, I’m upset that I didn’t try to win more in percentage, but I didn’t win personally. That’s a negative, it doesn’t bother me like I I was young.”