Michael Jordan is easily the greatest player to ever step onto the basketball court. While LeBron James is still chasing Jordan and may surpass him by the end of his career, most people still pick MJ as the GOAT over LeBron. MJ’s status of GOAT extends outside basketball and many people pick him as the greatest North American athlete.

While there are many responses to this like Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, Muhammad Ali, and many others, there is a newer name in that race. Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl, more than any other franchise in NFL history. Former Jordan opponent and very good friend Charles Barkley believes Brady has surpassed Jordan as GOAT.

“Michael was always going to be the best player four out of seven games. But the difference is, every time Tom Brady played a football game, it was a game seven… Every football game in the playoffs is a game seven. Michael is going to be the best player four out of seven games, but when you play football, every game is a game seven.”

Michael Jordan: Is he really the greatest?

It is hard to place someone like Michael Jordan across sports. If one looks at it holistically and not just within the realm of basketball, Jordan has a whole lot of competitors. But when it comes to Tom Brady, it is a little easier to break down. After all, they are both players in American leagues.

However, Jordan has something that Beady cannot have. That is winning a gold medal at the Olympics. While basketball is an international sport that is represented at the Olympic level, the brand of NFL football isn’t really established worldwide. That may title the worldwide scales in favor of Jordan.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer. Both men are fantastic sportsmen and have achieved a lot in their careers. While everyone can pick and choose, it just comes down to different opinions.