If you ask any NBA fan who the greatest basketball player of all time is, and there’s an almost 100% chance they will say either Michael Jordan or LeBron James.
The widely acknowledged two best players of all time, people have long speculated about the exact nature of the relationship between Jordan and James, with theories ranging from a polite friendship to outright beef.
But the current Los Angeles Lakers star has opened up on his connection with the Chicago Bulls legend, and how he was influenced by him throughout his career.
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LeBron James opens up on relationship with Michael Jordan
They are the two most famous players to ever don the number 23, and now LeBron James has opened up on his relationship with Michael Jordan.
“Me & Michal Jordan are in a good spot..
I hope that we talk more when I’m done playing..
Me & Kobe never had a real relationship until we were at the Olympics together..
We were like family once he retired & I became a Laker..
MJ doesn’t wanna talk to me until I’m done” 😂😂… pic.twitter.com/axbmfJJvQk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025
During an interview on the Pat McAfee Show – dubbed the LeBronversation – James said that while he does not regularly interact with Jordan, they have a good relationship based off mutual respect, and hinted that this could grow once he retires.
“We don’t talk,” James said. “Because I’m still playing. I’m still playing, I’m still focused on my craft right now.”
“And MJ, we all know MJ. Even if you don’t know him personally, he is one of the most ruthless competitors there is.
“Until I’m done and he doesn’t have to look at me running up and down wearing the No. 23 and every time my name is mentioned, it’s mentioned with his, [a relationship will have to wait].”
James then likened their bond to his relationship with late Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who he said he didn’t truly grow close to until Bryant’s retirement.
“The funny thing is, me and Kobe – the late, great Kob, obviously – me and Kobe never had a real relationship either.” James said.
“We were on the [USA] Olympic team, we had a great relationship there. The Olympic team in ’08, the Olympic team in ’12, but it was always competitive between us.
“We were always like, I was on the East Coast, he was on the West Coast.
“[Joining the Lakers was] when our relationship became really, really good.
“He welcomed me, he called me, like, ‘Bro, anything you need in L.A., I got you. You’re a Laker now. You’re family,’ and we would have multiple conversations.
“You guys saw him coming to a lot of games… and when I passed him for the scoring record in Philly, he had a tweet out there like, ‘Keep on going.’ Like, ‘Keep transcending the game. Keep going,’ and that s**t meant so much to me.”
During the conversation, the four-time NBA MVP also spoke about his viral moment with Jordan at the NBA’s 75th Anniversary celebration, where the two greats shared a moment.
“That was dope,” James said.
“That’s straight respect, admiration and me, for sure, I wear 23 because of MJ.
“The inspiration that he gave me as a kid in Akron, Ohio, who don’t have much inspiration in your hometown.”
However, despite the respect James holds for Jordan, the 41-year-old pushed back against the narrative that he signed to Nike because that was the brand of the Bulls icon.
“No the f**k I didn’t,” he said.
“I signed with Nike because I got a hell of a signing bonus and they gave me a seven-year, $90 million contract and I moved my mom out of the hood the next day I signed that contract… like, what are we talking about?”
James and the Los Angeles Lakers are now in pursuit of homecourt advantage via a top-four seed in the NBA playoffs, as he and new running mate Luka Dončić prepare for a run at the 2024/25 title.
