Michael Beasley has made his pick in the league’s most heated debate—and he’s not hesitating.
In a conversation with Moshe Popack, the former No. 2 overall pick stood firm on his stance (via HoopsHype): “LeBron over Jordan. One hundred percent.”
Beasley expanded on his reasoning, highlighting LeBron James’ longevity, consistency, and transparency throughout his two-decade career.
“First, I’ll start with what everybody knows—points, longevity, all of that,” he explained.
Beasley also pointed out what he sees as a one-sided view of Michael Jordan’s legacy, where his flaws are often overlooked.
“With Jordan, they don’t talk about the negatives,” he said. “They don’t mention the playoff losses.”
He also emphasized Jordan’s reliance on Hall of Fame-caliber teammates, noting the Bulls legend’s pursuit of Dennis Rodman, who had already won two titles before joining Chicago.
“They don’t tell the story of him having to learn the championship pedigree,” Beasley said.
For Beasley, LeBron’s career offers something rare in sports: total visibility.
“LeBron James gave us—or has given us—the opportunity to be witnesses,” he said. “We watched his good. We watched his bad. We watched his ups and downs for so long—and he’s been so great that we don’t have anything to say anymore.”
Beasley also credited James for thriving under the weight of modern media scrutiny, something Jordan never experienced in the same way.
“Fortunately for Michael Jordan and unfortunately for LeBron James—there wasn’t social media back then,” he said. “It wasn’t so close to the players.”
He added that the spotlight on today’s stars is relentless, comparing it to the limited reach of media in the 1990s.
“Now we know what’s going on all over the world,” Beasley said. “And LeBron’s career began in the social media era.”
Beasley acknowledged the added pressure James faced from a young age, recalling the first time he heard about him while in middle school.
“For him to have the pressure he had on him from so young… I first heard about him when I was in eighth or ninth grade,” Beasley said. “I told my mom about him.”
