Former NBA All-Star picks Michael Jordan as his GOAT: ‘I don’t think there’s anything LeBron can do’

The debate over the greatest player of all time has been ongoing for years, with many former players and analysts picking Michael Jordan as their favorite. However, LeBron James’ impressive career has put him in the conversation, and now a former NBA All-Star has shared his opinion on the matter.

“What he’s doing, the longevity, it’s incredible, it really is,” Wally Szczerbiak said about James during a conversation on The Dan Patrick Show. “The longevity of LeBron… The fact that he’s still doing it at 40 years old is absolutely incredible.”

The former small forward not only highlighted James’ long career in the league, with 22 seasons so far, but also the fact that he is still making a difference with the Los Angeles Lakers. “I think they’re a legitimate title contender this year. So it’s amazing,” Wally added.

However, Szczerbiak went on to explain his preference. “It’s just the tightness of Jordan’s career, making it to six Finals and winning all six of them,” he emphasized. “Obviously, he had great teammates and a great coach, but he dominated his era of basketball like nobody else did.”

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers with teammate Wally Szczerbiak during the 2009 Playoffs

He concluded: “The fact that Michael Jordan did it in a small span of time and just dominated every Finals, I just don’t think there’s anything LeBron can do to surpass that, the 50,000 points plus, amazing accomplishment. I got him number two, right behind Michael Jordan.”

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LeBron James has an edge over Michael Jordan in the GOAT debate, says Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade

Szczerbiak knows what he’s talking about

Wally Szczerbiak speaks not only from the knowledge gained during his decade-long NBA career but also from the experience of having faced both Michael Jordan and LeBron James throughout his professional journey.

The former NBA All-Star began his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1999, and he crossed paths with Michael Jordan during MJ’s final years with the Washington Wizards, from 2001 to 2003. That same year, LeBron James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the draft, giving Szczerbiak the chance to compete against him numerous times.

And it doesn’t stop there. After leaving Minnesota in 2006, Wally went on to play for the Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 2008. There, he spent his final NBA years as a teammate of LeBron, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009, where they lost to the Orlando Magic.