Back when Michael Jordan was still in the NBA, he held an annual camp for the best prospects in Santa Barbara. Generally, it was all high school stars that made the McDonald’s All-American. In 2003 though, there was one person who managed to disguise himself. It was LeBron James’ longtime friend Rich Paul. That was also the first time he happened to meet Carmelo Anthony, and their first experience is laugh-worthy.

Paul, who had friends in his “neighborhood” give him their respective jerseys remembers checking into The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, a luxury hotel in Santa Barbara. The trio of him, Melo, and James at first glance felt like they were in paradise. “We woke up to the ocean,” the Klutch Sports man remembers.

The group felt it was the type of hospitality that comes with anything associated with Jordan. The celebrated agent even recalls unpacking his clothes, getting massages, and enjoying the richness of their stay. That was until they found out it was where MJ would be staying. “We actually had no business there,” Paul said reliving the moment on the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast.

Subsequently, once their day-long stay due to an early arrival came to an end, they were transported to reality. The Jordan camp had arranged for “dorms” for all athletes, a change none of them were ecstatic about. “You can’t take us back to the city,” Anthony shared his thoughts on the same.

The Michael Jordan camp had several great team-ups

After going into their dorms, the main reason behind their California visit was naturally to play some ball. Rich Paul was among the counselors of the camp and he actually shared the team with Jordan’s younger son. “Lil Romeo was on my team and I think Marcus might have been on my team. Marcus Jordan might have been on my team but it was a lot of fun though,” the agent recalls.

But there was one man, grown and strong enough to earn a distinguished nod from Jordan. That was unsurprisingly LeBron James. Since he entered the league straight out of high school, the Akron Hammer was a rookie at the time of the camp. Several years ago he remembers that being the place where he stood side-by-side with his basketball idol.

After the normal camp was done, Jordan would invite college athletes and NBA players to run scrimmages. James, due to his meteoric popularity and transcending skills was part of the intensely competitive games. An early GOAT vs GOAT showdown didn’t happen. They were teammates during that stint at camp.

“We’d get a solid hour or hour-fifteen of playing in. So yeah, I was on a team with MJ, and we didn’t lose a single game,” LeBron James claimed. It was the first time that not just the 39-year-old got the NBA experience, but he witnessed what it is to be in the presence of Michael Jordan. He only knew the six-time champion from the TV. Likewise, the moment was surreal for him. “If the man above would have taken me that day, I would’ve lived a hell of a life,” he told People.

What do you think of the hilarious tale of James, Paul, and Melo’s experience at the Jordan camp? Let us know your views in the comments below.