Six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen has reignited the long-standing debate over LeBron James and Michael Jordan by delivering a definitive take on the comparison. Appearing on the PBD Podcast, Pippen made it clear he believes the two stars are fundamentally different and cannot be compared.
“Michael was built different. Competitive 24/7. Not too many people are built like that,” Pippen said. He praised Jordan’s relentless drive, describing how his competitive spirit was unmatched and fully on display throughout his career.
Pippen contrasted Jordan’s approach with LeBron’s, pointing out that the eras they played in shaped their legacies in different ways. “When you look at these players in today’s era being LeBron, there’s really no comparison when you talk about the level of competitiveness,” Pippen explained.
Jordan’s legacy, Pippen argued, is condensed into a dominant 12-to-14-year span where his competitive nature was evident in every game. “Michael bunched up all of his competitiveness and sort of exposed it out to the world within 12 to 14 years. We saw his whole resume, his drive, his will to win,” Pippen noted.
By contrast, Pippen said LeBron’s longevity, while impressive, reflects a different type of approach. “When someone like LeBron has to spread that out for 20-plus years, it’s not the same drive, it’s not the same fight, it’s not the same hunger,” he explained.
Pippen dismissed the idea of comparing the two, using a vivid analogy. “When people try to make those comparisons of those two players, it’s like talking to someone in the front seat and the back seat. They ain’t even in the same lane,” he remarked.
Surprisingly, Pippen also rejected the notion of either player being the greatest of all time. “It’s not even worth talking about the two of them. When you ask who’s better—LeBron or Michael—can’t ask me who’s the GOAT between LeBron and Michael. Neither one of them are GOATs,” he said.
Instead, Pippen offered his own pick for basketball’s GOAT: Magic Johnson. He highlighted Magic’s ability to transcend expectations, particularly as a rookie stepping in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during the 1980 NBA Finals. “Magic Johnson to me is a bigger GOAT than anybody because of how he brought a whole team. That’s transcending what you can do as a player,” Pippen asserted.
