President Donald Trump has weighed in on the enduring debate of who is the superior basketball player between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, unequivocally choosing Jordan.
"Michael Jordan is a guy that's a friend of mine, play golf with him. He's a really good guy. And I think LeBron is, maybe he's a racist, but maybe he doesn't like Trump, I don't know. But I only like people that like me. So, I would say Michael Jordan all the way," Trump stated in comments made at the Oval Office.
Trump's remarks came as James announced plans to sign a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. This move marks James' first time playing for the 76ers and enters him into his 24th NBA season.
Michael Jordan, who played 15 seasons in the NBA, secured six championships with the Chicago Bulls. His career included two retirements, a foray into baseball, and a return to the league. Jordan retired again before spending his final two seasons with the Washington Wizards. He retired with career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, the highest scoring average in NBA history. He was a 14-time All-Star, won five MVP awards, six NBA Finals MVP awards, was a 10-time scoring champion, and made the All-Defensive Team nine times.
LeBron James has had a storied career, beginning with the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by a significant period with the Miami Heat where he won two championships. He later returned to Cleveland, leading the Cavaliers to a title in the 2015-16 season. After four more seasons in Cleveland, James joined the Los Angeles Lakers, winning an NBA title in the 2019-20 season. James is the NBA's all-time leader in games played, points, All-Star selections, and All-NBA selections. He is the only player to surpass 43,000 career points and holds the record for the most 30-point games with 700. He has averaged 26.8 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game throughout his career, earning four MVP awards, 22 All-Star selections, 21 All-NBA selections, four Finals MVP awards, and six All-Defensive Team selections.