Four NBA stars played with LeBron and MJ – here’s what they said on GOAT debate

Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Who ya got?

The two basketball legends are always compared in the NBA’s GOAT discussion, and fans absolutely love to debate who wears the crown.

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MJ, of course, is renowned for revolutionizing the game, and he boasts a perfect 6-0 record in NBA Finals.

King James, meanwhile, is the league’s all-time leading scorer and has smashed a number of Jordan’s records en-route to the top.

For many, the greatest of all time debate simply comes down to personal preference, and it will no doubt rumble on until the end of time.

But what do those who suited up with both basketball legends make of it?

Only four players in NBA history were teammates with both Jordan and James: Scott Williams, Larry Hughes, Jerry Stackhouse and Brendan Haywood.

Back in 2020, each man shared their thoughts on the comparisons between the pair.

“One of the more interesting things is that I had the GOAT conversation with LeBron,” Haywood, who played with MJ in Washington and James in Cleveland, told HoopsHype five years ago.

“We were on the plane and I told him: ‘I love you, brother, but I have to go with Mike.’ I told him my reasons. I’ve had this conversation with him face-to-face. Six rings. Six MVPs. The guy has had two different three-peats and has never been to a Game 7.

“He was MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. I played with both of them and what LeBron has slowly but surely turned into from a confidence standpoint, MJ was that the first time he walked in the league.

“LeBron has gotten so much better at that. He has grown into a guy that closes out games. Michael always had that ability. Michael always competed defensively. Both of those guys are incredible competitors.

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“They do things differently. The biggest difference is that MJ is a cold-blooded killer. He is an assassin. LeBron is more respected and loved. He is loved by his teammates and he is respected by his opponents.”

Williams, who played with Jordan on the Bulls and LeBron on the Cavs, said: “They are two absolutely phenomenal players and I hate when someone says that one is the GOAT and one isn’t.

“It’s almost like a knock on the one that you say is not the GOAT. I don’t really like to get into that game. I’ve been forced into that corner where I’ve had to make that choice a few times and I will say Michael is the greatest of all time, in my opinion, from being in the locker room with both of them.

“But I didn’t get LeBron at the top of his game. I got him when he was still developing. We’re not as close but I still consider LeBron a friend.

“As a basketball commentator and as a fan, obviously, I have followed LeBron. It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all that LeBron has done and overcome.”

Hughes, meanwhile, played with MJ on the Wizards and with James on the Cleveland Cavaliers. He refused to pick a GOAT, and instead explained how the two are similar.

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“LeBron had the same attention to detail that MJ had. He was focused on the things that happened before him and how he could enhance the game that was played before him,” Hughes said.

“He was a student of the game. He understands how basketball players play and how they get their job done. The opportunity to have played with both of those guys was amazing.

“You see similarities in how they pay attention to detail. It’s film. It’s muscle memory. They had the ability to make adjustments based on what happened.”

Stackhouse also admitted it wouldn’t be fair to compare the two. He only played seven games with a ‘prime’ LeBron in 2010 while the pair were with the Miami Heat.

He also played with MJ in Washington, in the final years of the icon’s career.

“I don’t think it would be fair to give a comparison on them,” Stackhouse said.

“I played with LeBron at the prime of his career and I played with Michael in the last year of his career. I just think both are unbelievable players. They’re probably one and two in the history of the game. That’s where I’ll leave it.”

While Williams and Haywood gave the GOAT crown to Jordan – with the latter even explaining his decision to James – Stackhouse and Hughes argued both men should be hailed for what they have achieved in the NBA.

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That verdict seems more than fair, and comes from two people who are arguably best-placed to make the call.

But it certainly won’t stop fans from fiercely sharing their own opinions on the seemingly never-ending debate.

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