The hype surrounding LeBron James ahead of his NBA debut was surreal. It was even amplified by the narrative that James was the makings of a modern-day Michael Jordan. As expected, the media feasted on this subject, but LeBron made it clear that he would never be like Mike.
James was quizzed by the media to comment on the comparisons with Jordan right after he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite being the No. 1 overall pick, with every analyst raving about his skills, he remained grounded and ultimately downplayed his supposed similarities with the GOAT.
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“I’m not going to be able to do it the way Jordan did, I can tell you that,” James said in ’03. “I think I can produce enough, contribute enough, on and off the court, to lift the city of Cleveland.”
LeBron never wanted to be like Mike
At that point in his career, James could’ve easily ridden along the Jordan buildup. However, instant fame wasn’t what the teenage NBA rookie was after. Instead, LeBron kept his word and established a name for himself.
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If anything, the comparisons to MJ even became somewhat of a chip on James’ shoulder. It took a while before people really appreciated LeBron’s style and identity. More often than not, Jordan’s name was being mentioned whenever they talked about him.
It reached the point where LBJ got a bit tired of having to endure the Jordan topics in almost every interview and press conference. Once and for all, James reiterated that he was in no way trying to emulate MJ or anybody else.
“I’m not trying to be Jordan. I’m not trying to compare myself to Jordan or Magic [Johnson] or [Larry] Bird. A lot of people are, but I’m not. They have their own legacies. I’m trying to build my own,” LeBron said in the middle of his rookie season.
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Closing in on a GOAT debate
Despite constantly and strenuously being linked to Jordan, James was able to focus on his game. He failed to lead the Cavs to the postseason, but he had a remarkable maiden campaign in the league.
James finished as the Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In 2007, he single-handedly led the Cavs to their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. Two years later, LeBron won the first of his four MVP awards.
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Just when James thought the fans and the media were done associating him with Jordan, a new narrative arose. This time, it was the famous NBA GOAT debate.
Since joining the Miami Heat in 2010, LeBron has made history by making eight consecutive Finals appearances, the most in NBA history to date. This feat solidified his GOAT status, sparking passionate discussions and debate among fans regarding who the greatest player of all time is between him and Jordan.
These talks became a staple of conversations within the NBA community to this day. For so long, many have been convinced that no other player could ever exceed or match MJ’s legacy.
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However, the gap between the two iconic NBA figures has gotten slimmer in recent years as more and more fans and players are starting to believe that The King has already surpassed His Airness.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.