Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo believes Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is the greatest player in NBA history over Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
“Some guys might say he is No. 2, but other guys like me, I say he is No. 1, and he’s still going,” Antetokounmpo told NBA reporter Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Antetokounmpo was born in 1994. He grew up watching and idolizing LeBron, who became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer last season, so it’s not surprising to hear that Antetokounmpo’s GOAT is LeBron and not Jordan.
LeBron and Jordan are universally recognized as the two best players in NBA history. The two icons have combined to win nine regular-season MVPs, 10 championships and 10 Finals MVPs.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Michael Jordan Updates
Jordan won six titles, six Finals MVPs and five regular-season MVPs with the Bulls in the ’90s. He went 6-0 in the Finals and three-peated twice. Meanwhile, LeBron is a four-time champion, four-time Finals MVP and four-time regular-season MVP.
Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists during his incredible NBA career with the Bulls and Washington Wizards. He won the 1984-85 Rookie of the Year Award, the 1987-88 Defensive Player of the Year Award, 10 scoring titles and three steals titles with the Bulls.
Jordan is one of three NBA players to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Antetokounmpo and Houston Rockets icon Hakeem Olajuwon are the other two.
Jordan, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, is fifth in NBA history in points, first in points per game, third in steals and first in player efficiency rating. MJ holds the record for the most points scored in a playoff game (63).
As for LeBron, he is the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in both points and assists. The King has career NBA averages of 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers. LeBron is the only player in NBA history to win three Finals MVPs with three different teams.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Michael Jordan Updates
A future Hall of Famer, LeBron is first in NBA history in points, fourth in assists, ninth in steals, fourth in triple-doubles, third in player efficiency rating and sixth in points per game. He is the only player ever with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
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