Video: Michael Jordan says he could've beaten LeBron in his prime
Michael Jordan said he could have beaten LeBron James in a one-on-one game in his prime during a Q&A session at the 20th Michael Jordan Flight School in Santa Barbara, Calif.
“This is the ESPN question,” Jordan said. “I know it's going to be all over ESPN. If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question. And he's going to say no question.”
During the 2015 NBA Finals, James passed Jordan's record for playoff minutes, but Jordan still boasts a higher field goal percentage (49.7%) and average points per game (30.1), among other career statistics.
Jordan also said if he had to choose between playing one-on-one against either James or Warriors guard Stephen Curry, he would choose Curry.
“If I had a chance to go one-on-one with Stephen Curry or LeBron, which one would I chose?,” Jordan said. “Right now or when I was in my prime? Right now? Well, I'd go against Stephen Curry because I'm a little bit bigger than him so I could back him in, but LeBron's a little bit too big.”
• Watch: Michael Jordan, Jimmy Butler face off in camp shooting contest
In June, Lakers great Shaquille O'Neal said the five best Lakers would beat the five best Bulls by 50 points. Jordan responded to that proposition during the Q&A session by saying the five all-time greatest Bulls "would've killed" the five all-time greatest Lakers.
Jordan additionally name-dropped Celtics legend Larry Bird, Angels outfielder Mike Trout, former Wizards first-round pick Kwame Brown, Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Bugs Bunny.
Jordan's comments about James start at 2:30 and 3:40 in the video from Bay Area HQ below.
- Erin Flynn
