Michael Jordan: I would beat LeBron James in my prime

Michael Jordan is famous for his incredible basketball skills, and because he rarely ever pulls punches. Jordan was doing a question-and-answer recently with kids at a gym and was asked the inevitable question: could you have beaten LeBron James in a 1-on-1 match at your peak? The answer from Jordan, per Bleacher Report?

“No question.”

Jordan is widely considered to be the best basketball player of all-time, winning six rings and dominating the 1990’s despite sitting out most of two years with a brief retirement. Jordan was dominant on both ends of the floor, something James can also claim.

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However, Jordan supporters point out that while Jordan went 6-0 in the Finals, James is currently a mediocre 2-4 with both the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. James has accomplished one feat that Jordan never managed, though, by taking his team to five consecutive Finals (four with Miami, one with Cleveland).

Jordan went on to answer some other very interesting questions, including who was the better coach: Dean Smith or Phil Jackson?

“Phil was lucky, because I was taught the game by Dean Smith,” Jordan said.

Jordan also said that Larry Bird was the biggest trash-talker he ever played against. Bird was famous for running his mouth during games, something he more than backed up during his Hall of Fame career with the Boston Celtics. The two legends had a memorable playoff series in 1986, which was won by Boston.

The six-time NBA champion and Finals MVP also talked about the debate started by former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal, who stated that the all-time Lakers would crush the all-time Bulls.

“I just felt like he was just talking,” Jordan said. “It’s a debate. The thing is we would never know. I think we would have killed them. And he thinks they would have killed us. You guys decide.”

Jordan also admitted that Robin Thicke is his favorite current artist. That might hurt his “greatest ever” standing.