Magic Johnson settles LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate … for now (Video)

Has LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time? Magic Johnson thinks LeBron still has work to do before passing MJ.

After LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA championship on Sunday night, the debate about who the greatest basketball player of all time has reignited.

Michael Jordan holds the mantle as the greatest basketball player of all time according to most, and while, there are those who think LeBron is the most gifted player to ever lace up the sneakers, his fourth ring still falls short to Jordan’s six.

And that’s largely why Magic Johnson isn’t ready to anoint LeBron as the GOAT. Although, he’s closing in on that title.

Magic was on First Take on ESPN on Monday morning to give his assessment of the ongoing GOAT debate and what more LeBron needs to accomplish before passing Jordan in his mind.

Magic Johnson thinks LeBron James has work to do before passing Michael Jordan

“LeBron James is well on his way,” Magic said. “If he wins one more ring, Michael and him are gonna be right there together. It’s going to be hard not to say he’s the greatest of all-time with Michael and, of course, my man Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] is in that conversation. But he gets the next one, it’s gonna be hard not to say he’s right there with MJ.”

So Magic isn’t ready to crown the King just yet because he only has four rings but would change his tune if he repeats and adds a fifth ring, which would match Magic’s five, and still be one shy of Jordan’s six rings in an eight-year span.

Magic points out LeBron needs to repeat with the Lakers to help his case. Jordan, of course, has a pair of three-peats that made up his six rings.

So four is not greater than six, but Magic’s math says five would be greater than six.

Okay, cool, whatever, can we just stop with the debate and just stop and witness the greatness that is LeBron and not take anything he does for granted because we don’t know if we’ll ever see his kind on the court again when he retires?

Whether you think LeBron is the GOAT or not, there’s no doubt that he and Jordan are 1-2 or 2-1 for what they did on the court as much as what they did off the court in elevating the game.