LeBron James believes there's enough room at the top for him and his childhood idol, Michael Jordan.
"I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different," the Los Angeles Lakers star told ESPN's Dave McMenamin during a January interview published Wednesday. "I have been a point forward/forward point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot.
"There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but s---, he was f-----g great. We're both great. We're both great basketball players."
James, whose Lakers are on the cusp of a second-round appearance in his record 23rd NBA season, did express his fondness for the Hall of Famer while discussing one of their career similarities.
"I hope I made him proud at least, wearing that No. 23," he said.
The 41-year-old has long been candid about idolizing the former Chicago Bulls star. Jordan captured six titles in two three-peats during the 1990s. While James may not be able to match his hero's six career championships (he remains at four and has yet to decide on a possible retirement after the season), the 2003 first overall pick has carved out a resume that rivals and even betters Jordan's in some aspects, including 21 All-NBA selections (Jordan had 11 in his 15 seasons) and an NBA-record 43,440 regular-season points.
"I think I am one of one. I think the way I play the game, I am a one-of-one player. And MJ, as well. A f-----g unbelievable basketball player," James told McMenamin.
"I think his midrange jump shot was unbelievable. He did so many things great. I grew up f-----g analyzing everything that he did, how he could get to his spot and rise up above everybody. Obviously, his post game was elite. His will to win. I think that is a trait that we all know and that we all wanted to be like. His determination to win."
