Vernon Maxwell has added his voice to the long-running Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate — and his stance is crystal clear.
In an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the former NBA guard made it known that he holds Jordan in a different category.
“I love LeBron to death,” Maxwell said, “but Michael Jordan was just on another level.”
Maxwell, who won two championships with the Houston Rockets in the 1990s, dismissed stats and accolades as the deciding factor.
He argued that the difference becomes obvious when watching complete games rather than highlight compilations.
“Young kids today? They didn’t see Michael play,” he said. “They need to sit down and watch a full game.”
Maxwell emphasized Jordan’s nightly consistency and two-way impact, saying, “When you see him get 32 a night, do everything defensively, carry the team… then you get it.”
Though he acknowledged James’ greatness, Maxwell maintained that Jordan remains unmatched.
He framed the No. 2 all-time spot as a major accomplishment, saying, “Sh*t, I’d be like, ‘There he go. Only one motherf***er better than me!’”
Jordan, a six-time NBA champion and five-time MVP, retired with a career scoring average of 30.1 points per game.
James, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in his 22nd season, has surpassed 40,000 career points while continuing to compete at a high level at age 40.
Despite the generational divide, Maxwell believes the eye test remains the ultimate decider.
His comments reflect a broader sentiment among former players who saw Jordan dominate in real time.
For Maxwell, no amount of statistical achievement changes what he witnessed during Jordan’s reign.
“You just had to be there,” he said.
