While the rest of the world debates whether Nikola Jokić or LeBron James has finally caught up to his shadow, Michael Jordan would like to be excluded from the narrative entirely.
On Saturday night, during a sit-down interview for the NBC Sports segment “Insights to Excellence,” the six-time champion addressed the “Greatest of All Time” debate. He dismissed the entire concept as a flawed exercise that does more harm than good to the sport’s legacy.
“The GOAT term is something I’ll never get high or low about. It just doesn’t exist for me.. We paved the way for Kobe and LeBron,” Jordan said. “The beauty of he game of basketball is a player after previous players have evolved the game further. But don’t then use that against the players that taught you the game or that you learned from.”
“I would have loved to play against LeBron and Kobe in my prime but we’ll never be able to know that… I think it creates animosity. I have no animosity against today players but you do have certain players that do have animosity due to the forgotten-ness of their contributions to the game of basketball.
“I think LeBron has had an unbelievable career. I admire him for what he’s done. As well as Kobe, KD, all these guys. I think they’ve elevated the game of basketball tremendously.”
Michael Jordan on Being Labeled the GOAT
Despite being the standard-bearer for the title, Jordan revealed that he feels no personal connection to the “GOAT” title. He called for more respect toward the players who paved the road for his own success, such as Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, as well as the 11-ring legacy of Bill Russell.
Jordan spoke with admiration for the players who followed his blueprint. Rather than viewing them as challengers to his throne, he sees them as the natural evolution of the game he helped globalize.
Nikola Jokic Enters the GOAT Debate
Jordan’s comments come just days after Michael Porter Jr. turned heads by claiming Nikola Jokić is the “best player I’ve ever seen.” He argued that many people only choose Jordan because they “haven’t watched the film.”
Statistically, the argument is becoming harder to ignore. As of March 2026, Jokić is the only center in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Porter Jr. pointed out that Jokić could have realistically won five consecutive MVPs.
Jokić currently holds the highest career Player Efficiency Rating (PER) in NBA history (28.51), ahead of Jordan (27.91).
Michael Jordan’s Resume
Over his 15-season career, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships via two separate “three-peats” in the 1990s. Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP in all six of those title runs, a league record, and he secured five regular-season MVP awards.
| Category | Michael Jordan’s Career Milestone |
| Finals Record | 6–0 (Two separate three-peats) |
| Finals MVPs | 6 (The most in NBA history) |
| Scoring Titles | 10 (7 consecutive from 1987–1993) |
| Defensive Peaks | 1988 Defensive Player of the Year & 9x All-Defensive First Team |
| MVP Awards | 5 Regular Season MVPs |
In 1988, Jordan clinched the Defensive Player of the Year award while also leading the league in scoring and winning the MVP. His defensive resume includes nine All-Defensive First Team selections, tying him for the most in history. Jordan was a 14-time All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA First Team selection, and a three-time All-Star Game MVP.
His accolades extend to the international and collegiate levels as well, having won two Olympic gold medals (1984 and 1992) and an NCAA national championship at North Carolina.
