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

The titles LeBron James has won with the teams he’s played for throughout his career, along with the individual records he’s set, have earned him a prominent place in NBA history. In recent years, the forward for the Los Angeles Lakers has become a key figure in the GOAT debate, with many analysts comparing him to Michael Jordan. Now, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade has made a clarification on the matter.

“MJ averaged 20 when he came back, and he was still very good, but LeBron has stayed at a level that we haven’t seen,” Wade said during an interview shared by Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “I mean, he’s averaging 30 points per game in his 20th year in the league!”

Dwyane compared LeBron‘s recent performances with the Lakers at 40 years old, where he’s averaging 24.5 points per game and is ranked 19th in the league, to the final years of Michael Jordan’s career, when he played with the Washington Wizards. In his first season there, at 38, MJ averaged 22.9 points, a figure not far from LeBron’s current numbers.

“The conversations of greatness—he makes it hard,” Wade added. “I’m just happy that I get the opportunity to be part of his greatness in any way I can, but we’re all witnesses, right? So we’re going to see where he ends up.”

Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat on court against the Indiana Pacers

The former shooting guard then compared LeBron to other NBA icons from the past. “All the older guys before were like, ‘It’s about Wilt (Chamberlain), it’s about Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), it’s about these guys,’ but because of his consistency…” he said, implying that James’ longevity at the top sets him apart from other league legends.

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Wade is also excited about the future of the NBA

In the same interview, Dwyane Wade spoke about the young players who are currently shining in the NBA and will take over once the league’s older stars retire. “We have the greatest players; we have LeBron and we have Steph (Curry) and we have KD (Kevin Durant) and all these greats,” he said. “But we have these young guys that are coming and they’re creating their own path. So it’s good to see, man.”

Wade mentioned some of the players he’s excited about. “I love Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from Boston. I love Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. I love my brother Donovan Mitchell down there in Cleveland,” he said.

“I know what it’s like. I know what the journey is like. And so, I’m just a fan. Like Ja Morant. It’s the level and when you look at it and say, ‘Where is our game going?’” added the three-time NBA champion. “I’m a fan, you know what I mean? I jump out of my seat when people go up and they dunk it and do all these things. I’m a fan of so many players.”