NBA legend Charles Barkley and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan have been friends for a long time. Both players were drafted in the 1984 NBA draft. Barkley got to see Michael Jordan?s greatness firsthand on the court. And not just that, but Barkley also got to play against Jordan during his career in the NBA as well.?

So it would be a reasonable assumption that Barkley would choose Michael Jordan in the greatest player of all time debate. But perhaps surprisingly, that is not the case. As Barkley chose the four-time NBA champion, LeBron James, instead.?

Barkley makes a bold choice in the GOAT debate

LeBron James is one of the few players who made his NBA debut right after high school. And since coming into the NBA, he has been nothing short of dominant. A high-flyer when he came into the league, James has worked on several aspects of his game.?

‘The King’ is currently second on the all-time scoring list and will likely soon surpass fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Recently, he surpassed Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce on the most three-pointer made list, cracking the top 10.?

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But for Charles Barkley to put LeBron James ahead of Michael Jordan is arguably quite controversial. Jordan often left fans, players, and broadcasters in absolute awe of his skills on the court. Add the other aspects of his game to the mix, and there wasn?t anyone who could match up with Jordan back then.?

Some of that could be said for LeBron James as well. He has been a unique player since he came into the league. Even though James plays the small forward position, he is more of a point forward.?

The rest of the league following in the footsteps of LeBron James

James dominated the league by being a one-of-a-kind player for many years to come. But the rest of the league has caught on. Now players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant have also morphed into playing a similar playstyle.?

At 37 years of age, Bron has still yet to show any signs of slowing down as he enters his 20th season in the league. He can run the floor, get up to block shots, and still throw down monster jams. You could say James has had better longevity over the years since Jordan only played 15 seasons in the NBA.?

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Although, it may be unfair to compare the two. But it seems as if Charles Barkley has his mind made up.

What do you think of Charles Barkley’s comments? Who do think is the GOAT between Michael Jordan and LeBron James? Let us know in the comments below.?