Whenever the subject of the greatest NBA player in history comes up, the names of Michael Jordan and LeBron James are never far from the conversation.
Both Jordan and James have passionate supporters fighting their corner in the eternal debate. Jordan is regarded by many as the greatest to play the game, owing to his perfect 6-0 record in the NBA Finals, while also achieving two championship three-peats with the Chicago Bulls. Others are convinced that four-time NBA champion, James, deserves the title, due to his longevity in the sport plus his all-round skills and mind for the game.
Everyone connected to the NBA has an opinion on the matter and so it was no surprise to see the question put to much-hyped rookie Cooper Flagg, shortly before he was selected as the number one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
Flagg recently received high praise from James, with the Los Angeles Lakers star expressing confidence he will be a success in the NBA. On a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast, James stated: "I personally think that he wants to be great. (He is) a guy that can do so many different things on the floor. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump."
James and Flagg also crossed paths last summer as the young star took part in a practice match against Team USA, who were preparing for the Olympic Games in Paris. If their brief interaction was supposed to influence Flagg's opinion on the Jordan vs LeBron debate, it didn't work.
Cooper Flagg Never Hesitated When Picking Between Michael Jordan and Lebron James
The number one draft pick couldn't have been clearer with his answer
Cooper knew who he was going for instantly, telling talkSPORT:
"Michael Jordan for sure. That's the GOAT to me. I don't know if it was how I was raised by my parents or not, but that's just my answer."
While Flagg's verdict may not be one that hardcore LeBron fans agree with, the youngster still thinks highly of the 40-year-old Lakers star - and there are similarities with how both have entered the NBA. At just 18 years of age, Flagg is the youngest player to be selected as the first pick in the NBA Draft since James was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers 22 years ago.
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
Answers to the GOAT basketball player debate can be less about achievements for some and come down more so to which player influenced an individual the most and who made them fall in love with the game. Many current players and fans of the sport will point to other icons such as the late Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird being the best in their eyes. Potentially, younger basketball fans may even select players that are far closer to their prime today, such as Kevin Durant or Steph Curry.
Flagg, whilst claiming Jordan as the GOAT, has more of a connection to Larry Bird than any other basketball icon. He explained: "The way he (Bird) played so hard on every possession. The way he was diving on the floor, doing all the little things. That's kind of the way I modeled my game when I was younger. I think that's why I play the way I am. I have to give credit to that."
Flagg will hope to follow in the footsteps of all the great NBA stars when he takes to the court as a Dallas Mavericks player next season. He will have no shortage of experienced stars to learn from as the team currently boasts previous NBA championship winners, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson.
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