LeBron James Named the 2 Most Influential NBA Players Ever

LeBron James and Michael Jordan have been destined for a rivalry since the former was a high school player in Akron, Ohio. However, that feud would never actually play out on the court, as Jordan’s final year with the Wizards was one season before LeBron’s rookie campaign.

The “beef” between the two players has been more of a media-driven debate, pitting the two against each other for the immortal title of greatest player to ever live. James was dubbed “The Chosen One” as a teenager, given the chance to do the impossible and surpass Jordan’s NBA legacy. Somehow, he’s almost exceeded expectations in his still-going 23-year career.

Although he’s blown those expectations out of the water, the GOAT arguments still rage on. Sometimes, one of the two men will add fuel to the fire with certain statements. This might just be one of those times.

LeBron James Snubbed Michael Jordan for Most Influential Player

In March 2024, before the two suddenly became player and coach for the L.A. Lakers, JJ Redick and LeBron James hosted a basketball knowledge podcast called “Mind the Game”. In a particular episode, James and Redick were discussing players who’ve influenced the game of basketball the most to where it is today.

In a controversial moment, James left Michael Jordan off his list of the most influential players. Was LeBron’s argument a good one? Well, let’s see.

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LeBron and JJ Redick began the conversation by talking about how, in today’s NBA, no lead is safe. Deficits that used to be insurmountable, even just 15 years ago when James and Redick began their careers, are now considered easily winnable. Instead of emptying a squad’s bench when they were down 19 or 20 points entering the fourth quarter, teams now see that gap as “one run away”.

James credits two players in particular for changing the game and making it more relatable:

Allen Iverson Was a Cultural Icon

The phrase “modern basketball” describes a fast-paced, up-and-down-the-floor style of game where shooting, spacing, and off-ball movement are king. It’s a style of basketball that allows smaller players to thrive based on their skill, speed, and shooting ability, because the floor is more spread out, giving them space to work.

In the old days of the NBA, size ruled pretty much everything. Centers and huge forwards were the best players on nearly every championship team, and few small guys made a name for themselves. It was a sport centered on brute force by some of the biggest men in the world, leaving little to the imagination for a regular child who dreamed of one day playing basketball professionally.

Then, along came Allen Iverson, who captured the imaginations of millions of kids worldwide with his flashy style, massive heart, and beautiful playstyle. Iverson gave young ones everywhere a belief that dribbling skills, shooting, and determination could make their dreams come true, even if they never grew to be a giant.

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To put it simply, “The Answer” made basketball more enjoyable for everyone, especially those who watched in awe of how he defied the odds. He was fun to watch and wore his heart on his sleeve, all the while creating highlight reels that’ll last a lifetime and still winning games with overmatched rosters.

Steph Curry Changed How the NBA is Played

Then, as Iverson’s career was winding down, a college sensation out of Davidson named Stephen Curry was entering the league. This small, skinny kid with bad ankles took what AI had done and brought it to a whole new level. Before Curry joined the Warriors, it was seen as unacceptable for players to shoot “bad” three-pointers.

Shooting off the dribble from way beyond the arc would earn even the best shooters a spot on the bench for decades. Curry made it not only allowed, but actually encouraged. Nowadays, teams have largely abandoned the mid-range jumper and post-up game in favor of getting up as many threes as possible.

In 2024-25, NBA teams shot an average of 37.6 threes per game and hit them at a 36% clip. In 2009-10, Curry’s rookie year, they shot 18.1 threes per night and drained them at a 35.5% rate. Although percentages have only slightly increased, attempts have more than doubled in just 15 years.

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Sure, analytics have driven a lot of this philosophy, but Curry was the one who showed franchises that three-pointers were the way to go. He opened a lot of doors on his way there.

Some critics bemoan the new game of basketball, saying the endless barrage of threes is bad for the sport. While this argument has some validity to it, what cannot be questioned is what Curry has done for young basketball players everywhere. It is now not just possible for smaller boys and girls to live out their basketball dreams, but shooting threes is actually a valuable way to make a career, regardless of your size.

While Michael Jordan and others have had large influences on basketball, especially in terms of making it popular worldwide, selling merchandise, and growing the league, no two players have made as much of an effect on the actual sport as Iverson and Curry have.