
LeBron James stated that he does not compare himself to Michael Jordan because their playing styles are fundamentally different. He emphasized that while both are great players, he has always been a point-forward focused on passing, unlike Jordan, who sought to score.
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The G.O.A.T. debate in pro basketball will never end, as most hoops experts have narrowed the list down to two players: Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
James was asked about the debate and Jordan's influence on his game.
"I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different," James said to ESPN.com. "I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot.
"There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but (expletive), he was (expletive) great. We're both great. We're both great basketball players."
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)
Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)
Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)
LeBron James mentioned that he has never compared himself to Michael Jordan, highlighting that their games are fundamentally different.
LeBron describes himself as a point-forward who looks for the pass, while he notes that Jordan primarily looked for the shot.
LeBron acknowledges that both he and Jordan are great basketball players, but he believes their styles and approaches to the game differ significantly.
LeBron believes his game is different because he has always focused on passing rather than scoring, which he attributes to his role as a point-forward.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)
Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)
Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)
Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)
Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)
Shaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)
Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)
Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)
Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)
Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)
Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)
Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)
Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)
Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)
Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)
Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)
David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)
Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)
John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)
Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)
Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)
Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)
Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)
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Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
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Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
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LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)
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Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)
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Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)
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Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)
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Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)
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Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)
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Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)
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Shaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)
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Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)
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Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)
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Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)
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Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)
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Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)
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Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)
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Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)
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Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)
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Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)
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Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)
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Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)
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David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)
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Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)
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John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)
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Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)
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Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)
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Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)
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Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)
The 41-year-old James is the league's all-time scoring leader, and ranks No. 1 in games played as well as being the active leader in rebounds, assists, and steals.
"There are a lot of things that MJ did better than I do," James said, "and I think there are some things that I do better than him. That's just how the game goes. There's a lot of things that I can say in particular. You already know how this conversation is going to be (misinterpreted) by people, man."
James and Jordan may be different basketball players, but they agree on the GOAT conversation overall.
Jordan weighed in on the topic in March, telling CBS News, "There's no such thing as G.O.A.T. To say that one is better than the other, it's not really right," while James called the debate a "very tiring conversation" and "barbershop talk."
"I think I am one of one. I think the way I play the game, I am a one-of-one player. And MJ, as well. A (expletive) unbelievable basketball player," James said. "I think his midrange jump shot was unbelievable. He did so many things great. I grew up (expletive) analyzing everything that he did, how he could get to his spot and rise up above everybody. Obviously, his post game was elite. His will to win. I think that is a trait that we all know and that we all wanted to be like. His determination to win."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James weighs in on Michael Jordan GOAT debate