When Michael Jordan exuded confidence about beating LeBron James: "If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question"
Michael Jordan was very confident that he could beat LeBron James in a one-on-one game, during a Q&A session in 2015. Jordan and James are considered two of the greatest players in history and will always be part of the endless GOAT debate.
At his 20th Annual Basketball Camp: Michael Jordan Flight School in Santa Barbara, Jordan took the time to answer questions from the participants. One question was if he could win a one-on-one game against "The King" during his prime. Jordan tried to avoid giving an answer, but his competitiveness just didn't allow it.
"Why you guys keep with that question?" Jordan said. "I know this is the ESPN question. I know it's going to be all over ESPN. If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question, and he's going to say no question."
Michael Jordan alluded to the same question he was asked during the promotion of NBA 2K14. Jordan reckons he could beat anyone from LeBron James to Jerry West to Kobe Bryant in a one-on-one game. "His Airness" did acknowledge that he'd have a tough time against Bryant because of their similarities.
"I don't think I would lose. ... other than to Kobe Bryant, because he steals all of my moves," Jordan said.
It should be noted that LeBron James was on the cover of NBA 2K14. When "The King" heard what Jordan said about him and all the other greats, he brushed it off and loved the promotion from his idol.
"MJ said that? I've thought about the matchup, but no one will ever see it, and it's not going to happen," James told ESPN before the 2013-14 NBA season. It's good for people to talk about. ... Where he'd say this at? Oh, it was for my game? It's good promotion then."
Also Read: Kevin Love praises LeBron James, personally thinks he's the GOAT: "He's arguably top one or two greatest players of all time"
Did LeBron James respond to Michael Jordan in 2015?
When Michael Jordan proclaimed that he could beat LeBron James in a one-on-game, in the summer of 2015, "The King" responded less than a week later.
In an interview with Willie Geist of Today, James was asked about Jordan's remarks. Despite what critics say about his competitiveness, the four-time MVP reckoned he would beat Jordan.
"Oh, I take myself,'' James said. "For sure. I mean, I'm gonna take myself versus anybody. I'll tell you one thing; they're gonna have to have a few wheelchairs and a couple ambulances there to get us off the floor."
With James inching closer to becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer, the GOAT debate is starting to heat up once again. Draymond Green recently picked James over Jordan, while Juan Toscano-Anderson put MJ on a pedestal and James after Kobe Bryant.
Also Read: "Hey kid, just have a good time. There's only one Michael Jordan" - When MJ crushed his oldest son's basketball dream in a 2005 interview