LeBron's Physical Superiority Will Be Too Much To Handle For Jordan, Says Old Teammate

KEY POINTS

Retired NBA star John Salley weighed in on LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan
Salley thinks James would beat Jordan in a one-on-one game
The NBA legend revealed what Jordan said about being called "GOAT"

Former Chicago Bulls star John Salley predicted how LeBron James could beat Michael Jordan in a one-on-one game.

Basketball fans have different views as to how James would fare against Jordan in his prime. It has long been debated whether the four-time NBA champ could really dominate the greatest player of all time.

In a recent interview with VLADTV, Salley was asked to weigh in on the possible outcome of a one-on-one game between James and Jordan.

Salley, who won the 1996 NBA title with the Bulls, believes that James’ incredible physique could spell the difference in the dream match-up.

“One-on-one? Okay, one-on-one LeBron is going to win because he’s 6’10. All he has to do is back him down and put his hand up. If you got (other) guys around, getting in his (James’) way, Michael can do something. But one-on-one LeBron at 6’10, he’ll just post him up,” he explained.

He also pointed out that James is a one-of-a-kind player. In fact, the retired NBA star even joked about the only way he could’ve possibly stopped James’ offensive prowess.

“His jumping 50 inches or 40 something inches off the ground all the time, he’s (around) 6’10,” and can shoot the ball from 4 feet behind the three (point line),” the former NBA star said of James. “It would be really hard to play him. Really hard. I would literally punch him in his hand.”

James and Jordan are two different athletes who played in different basketball eras. The latter has been dubbed as the “GOAT” for decades, but some fans are convinced that the former has already taken over the title.

A fourth career NBA title for LeBron James in his 10th career NBA Finals appearance has revived the long-asked question of whether James or Michael Jordan is the league's all-time greatest player GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Douglas P. DeFelice

In an earlier interview with the same media group, Salley revealed what Jordan said about being called “the greatest player of all time.”

Based on his recollection, around 1989 or 1990, he told Jordan that people are referring to him as the greatest to ever play the game. But instead of acknowledging the references, the then-Bulls superstar appointed the compliment to another NBA legend.

“They only watched you play for four years, [and now] you’re the greatest player ever. He was like ‘you know that’s how they do s---, you know they put things together. They want to sell sneakers, they want to sell the league.’ He doesn’t believe he's the greatest player to ever play to this day…He would say, Oscar Robertson [was the greatest],” he recalled.