Four-time NBA champion and basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal once found himself at the centre of a very difficult debate: who would you back in a one-on-one between LeBron James and Michael Jordan?
While there are a number of names in the hat when considering the GOAT of basketball, the discussion normally boils down to LeBron and Jordan. And each player possesses a number of strong points to support their case.
Michael Jordan vs LeBron James
The GOAT battle of the NBA
Jordan finished his career with a 6-0 record in the NBA Finals, being named MVP in all six of those editions. A clutch player throughout his career, MJ was also an all-rounder. A 10-time scoring champion in the NBA, he was also included in the NBA All-Defensive First Team a further nine times.
LeBron's longevity and versatility, meanwhile, continue to impress NBA fans the world over. The oldest active player in the NBA, he is the league's all-time leading scorer. He also sits in fourth place for all-time assists. Furthermore, his star power is unparalleled, having led three different teams to the NBA Championship, a record he shares with three other players.
As undeniable all-timers and incredibly versatile players, a one-on-one between the two NBA legends presents a difficult contest to call. When the two players were asked who would win, LeBron and Jordan unsurprisingly backed themselves.
"If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question," declared Jordan, speaking in 2015.
Michael Jordan
In an interview with the Today Show's Willie Geist, LeBron was similarly confident in his own ability. "Oh, I take myself. I will take myself for sure. I'm going to take myself versus anybody," LeBron responded unerringly. "They're going to have to have a few wheelchairs and a couple of ambulances there to get us off the floor."
Shaquille O'Neal on the MJ vs LeBron Debate
Shaq revealed who he thinks would win in a 1v1 with both in their primes
During a promotional event in Hong Kong, Shaquille O'Neal was questioned over the LeBron/Jordan debate. O'Neal pondered over the question, analysing the two players before providing a decisive answer.
"It would be an interesting game," began O'Neal, via ESPN. "Young LeBron was more like Magic Johnson. He was sort of like Magic with Jordan's abilities. He liked to pass, and he liked to get it up. But Mike was Mike. He was just special—like no one else. He always did things no one else could do and things you couldn't compare to anyone else. So, he was special, and he'd win."
Shaquille O'Neal
Ever a student of the game, O'Neal delved deeper into his adoration of the sport, offering his own personal GOAT of the NBA.
"I've seen young Mike and young LeBron, and I must say Dr. J [Julius Erving] is still my favourite player," the 15-time NBA All-Star revealed.
Michael Jordan's career highlights (selected)
6x NBA Champion
6× NBA Finals MVP
5× NBA Most Valuable Player
14× NBA All-Star
3× NBA All-Star Game MVP
10× All-NBA First Team
10× NBA scoring champion
3× NBA steals leader
2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
Erving remains a pioneer almost 40 years after he retired from the sport. Widely acknowledged as the architect of the slam dunk, Erving too possessed a similar longevity to LeBron, amassing over 30,000 points in the ABA and NBA combined. His artistic, airborne slam-dunking style inspired Jordan's own approach to offence, with Jordan naming Erving his idol on several occasions.
"A lot of people today don't even mention his name, but to me, I still think he was the best," added O'Neal. "But these are questions that we'll never know the answer to. It's a bit like if I met Bruce Lee in an alleyway. Who would win? You'll never know. Some people say, 'Well, Bruce would kick Shaq's a**.' Some people say, 'Well, Shaq is two times bigger than Bruce Lee.' It's a good question, a good conversation, but we'll never know."
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