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Michael Jordan Once Confessed There Was “No Way” He’d Mirror LeBron James With Magic Johnson and Larry Bird: “I Was Trying to Beat Those Guys”

Published 10/02/2022, 7:30 AM EDT

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Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan has a trophy cabinet arguably like no other. MJ’s attitude and winning mentality have played a huge role in his success. He was as competitive as one could get and this quality of his still exists even after having retired from the NBA for quite some time now.  

One of the biggest turning points in NBA history was ‘The Decision’ by LeBron James. The then Cleveland Cavaliers star was a free agent in 2010 when he decided to join the Miami Heat. 

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Although he was criticized heavily for making the move, he hit back at his haters with a successful stint for the Heat. With the whole world talking about James’ decision, Michael Jordan was asked to comment. 

His competitive nature was clearly evident as MJ gave an interesting answer to the question. Jordan said, “There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team'”. 

He further added, “… I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys.” 

Interestingly enough, Jordan did play with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. However, it was not in the NBA. The Chicago Bulls star teamed up with the two legends in 1992 for the Barcelona Olympics as they represented Team USA.

LeBron James and Michael Jordan shared an emotional moment together

LeBron James has been compared to Michael Jordan for a long time. Ever since his much-anticipated debut in the NBA, he has been the center of numerous Jordan vs LeBron debates.

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Keeping all the rivalry aside, the two NBA stars seem to have a good relationship. During the NBA 75 event, fans across the world witnessed a legendary moment.

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MJ and LeBron embraced each other in what was their first public interaction in so many years. James described the opportunity as one he wouldn’t have missed, as Jordan had inspired him in his childhood. 

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WATCH THIS STORY: “Promise Me You Won’t Go and Talk…”: 18-Year-Old LeBron James Rejected a $10 Million Check in the Hopes of a Bigger Payday 

What are your thoughts on the LeBron James vs Michael Jordan debate? Let us know in the comments down below. 

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Written by:

Abhinava Ghosh

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Abhinava is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication. Abhinava has been following NBA for the past 6 years and is a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani