A few months before LeBron James made his NBA debut, Michael Jordan expressed doubt about his ability to dominate the league right away despite being arguably the most hyped prospect in NBA history.
“I think he would be an average player in our league right now with the potential to be a better player,” Jordan said of young James. “To say that he can step in at the same level as a Tracy McGrady or a Kobe Bryant would be unfair to LeBron James.”
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James soon learned about Jordan’s remarks, and the media and the NBA community yearned to hear what the promising teenager had to say. Unsurprisingly, his response showed a level of maturity very few 19-year-olds possess.
“Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever and… if anybody in the world can criticize somebody, it can be Michael Jordan. There’s no way I’m going to get mad at Michael Jordan criticizing me. There’s no way. Michael Jordan is like a dad. If Michael Jordan is going to tell anybody to do something — the players, the media, the coaches — you should do it. Simple as that,” he said.
Jordan didn’t want LeBron to be criticized
Even before he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, James had already built quite a fan base. At the same time, he also earned critics and bashers. Though Jordan was hesitant to heap praise on James, he didn’t belong in the latter category.
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In fact, NBA analyst and host Michael Wilbon once revealed that Jordan used his influence in the sport to stop the haters and the media from criticizing James.
“People don’t realize how much LeBron loves basketball. We could argue GOAT s—t all we want, but LeBron loves Michael! And vice versa!” Wilbon disclosed. “There’s been times I picked up the phone, and there’s been something nationally, and Mike said, ‘Get people off LeBron. What’s that about? Leave that kid alone.'”
“Particularly when he was younger, people don’t realize that all these icons followed Jordan more closely than almost all the rest of us — with real stakes!” he added.
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MJ and LeBron have always respected each other
Early on in his NBA career, the then-Cavaliers forward proved that he was different from other young players in the league. Over time, he significantly improved his game, and four years into his NBA career, he led the Cavs to an NBA Finals. Two years later, he won the first of his four MVP awards.
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James went on to exceed everybody’s expectations. Going into his 23rd season in the league, the current Los Angeles Lakers superstar continues to redefine the achievable, displaying the level of consistency and dominance no one has showcased before him.
As a result, many see James as the greatest player of all time. Meanwhile, there are those who refute it and argue that Jordan still holds that title.
However, the two have always admired and respected each other. And even though they never developed a personal relationship — not to the level of Jordan’s bond with the late great Kobe Bryant — their legacies will inevitably be intertwined.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.