Dennis Rodman: LeBron James would be 'average player' in late '80s or early '90s

Dennis Rodman (left) won three titles with Michael Jordan. (Mike Nelson/AFP/Getty Images)

Dennis Rodman doesn't put any stock in the comparisons between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

“If LeBron was playing in the late '80s or early '90s," Rodman said, "he’d be just an average player.”

Rodman went on to tell The Dan Patrick Show in an interview that aired Friday that LeBron is "a great player, a helluva player," but the Hall of Fame rebounding ace said Jordan dominated a much tougher era in leading the Bulls to six titles in the 1990s.

"If Michael played today … really? If he played the game today at 28 years old, he would average 40 points a game, probably more," said Rodman, who won three titles as Jordan's teammate with Chicago.

Rodman added: "I’m just sick and tired of people always comparing him and Michael Jordan. It’s a whole different era, man."

Pressed by Patrick about an "average" LeBron, Rodman said: “Look at those teams [when Rodman played]. Look at the Cleveland Cavaliers. Look at Golden State when they had Chris Webber and all of those guys. If those teams then could play now, they would kick anybody’s ass today. Are you kidding me?"

Heat coach: Impossible to compare James and Jordan

Rodman said it'd be "no contest" if the Bulls of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Rodman played today's Heat of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"The Heat has better talent than we had, but we had smarter players," Rodman said. “We would match up with the Heat easy. I would take Bosh out of his damn game easy. That’s not even a problem. How would Dwyane Wade match up with Scottie Pippen? Really? Scottie Pippen would guard LeBron easy. How are you going to cover those two guys [Jordan and Pippen]?"

Rodman said he would have welcomed the chance to guard James.

“If I was 28 years old guarding LeBron ... are you kidding me?" Rodman said. "If he scored on me, I would be like, OK, thanks. Guess what, though? Sooner or later, somebody’s gotta win, somebody’s gotta lose, and most of the time I don’t lose.”

Here's a clip of Rodman's interview with Patrick, who brings up James and Jordan at the 2:10 mark: