Many will consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest basketball player of all time, but, of course, some others will disagree. There are many top players who fans and critics will consider the GOAT of basketball, with the debate likely to remain ever-present until the world ceases to exist.
The two names that appear in almost all conversations, however, are LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Both are undoubtedly legends in their own rights, and have each cemented their legacy in basketball history, regardless of who fans believe to be the greatest of all time.
So, to aid in this debate, we thought it would be interesting to ask AI for reasons why MJ is NOT the GOAT, and here is what ChatGPT had to say.
LeBron James’ All-Around Game & Longevity
The first comparison made to ‘King James’ was the length of time both players have competed at the top level. James is the oldest active player in the NBA at 40 years old, and is in his 22nd NBA season, whereas Jordan played for 19 years.
The AI tool said: “LeBron has played at an elite level longer than Jordan did.”
It also pointed out that James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history (as of 2025), and has shown elite playmaking, sitting in the top five for assists.
|
Michael Jordan’s career highlights (selected) |
|
|---|---|
|
6x NBA Champion |
(1991–1993, 1996–1998) |
|
6× NBA Finals MVP |
(1991–1993, 1996–1998) |
|
5× NBA Most Valuable Player |
(1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) |
|
14× NBA All-Star |
(1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003) |
|
3× NBA All-Star Game MVP |
(1988, 1996, 1998) |
|
10× All-NBA First Team |
(1987–1993, 1996–1998) |
|
10× NBA scoring champion |
(1987–1993, 1996–1998) |
|
3× NBA steals leader |
(1988, 1990, 1993) |
|
2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion |
(1987, 1988) |
It is no secret that James has simply played more games than Jordan, and his longevity is something to admire, maintaining peak performance well into his late 30s and early 40s.
The final point made was that James is “arguably more versatile,” showing his ability to be able to guard 1–5 and play any position.
Michael Jordan’s Shorter Prime
ChatGPT then used time in a different manner to explain why Jordan is not the GOAT, discussing the fact that he did not compete at the top of his game for long enough.
It mentioned how Jordan took nearly five seasons off in total, beginning with his first retirement in 1993, which was followed by a stint in Minor League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. He returned to the NBA in 1995, before retiring for the second time in 1999. He then signed for the Washington Wizards, but was not at the same level as before, and was often telling the media how unimpressed he was by the players around him.
If you compare his time competing to that of James, who has never stepped away from the game, ChatGPT argues that to be the GOAT, you shouldn’t take breaks during your prime.
Strength of Competition
If you look at the competition Jordan faced in the 1990s, it is obviously going to be different to nowadays, but some critics believe he benefited from weaker opponents.
AI explained that the lack of challengers has been demonstrated by the fact that many of the superstars Jordan beat in the NBA Finals never won a ring. These include the likes of John Stockton, Karl Malone, and former best friend Charles Barkley. Whereas James has had to compete in a much more athletically deep NBA, facing ‘super teams’ like the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
Lack of Team Success Without Phil Jackson or Scottie Pippen
Without Scottie Pippen, Jordan was 1-9 in the playoffs and won all of his six NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls while Phil Jackson was the coach. It has been suggested by ChatGPT that these circumstances are what made Jordan the player he was, and that without them, he might not have won all the titles that he did. Compare this to LeBron, who has competed in many finals with different players and coaches.
Off-Court Influence Isn’t Basketball Greatness
Finally, Jordan’s accomplishments off the court were looked at, with the point being made that these blur the line between a basketball great and a social celebrity.
He has had many successful business ventures, including his Air Jordans and the original Space Jam, and some argue his legacy is stretched by his iconic branding and links to the sport post-career, not by his on-court achievements.
As ChatGPT put it: “Being the most marketable doesn’t mean being the best player.”
The tool raises some interesting points, but, of course, at the end of the day, this is an AI’s opinion, forever begging the question: Will this debate ever be settled?
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