Shaquille O’Neal Ends GOAT Debate Between Michael Jordan and LeBron James – “He Was a Different Animal”

Michael Jordan and LeBron James have forever been the two most debated superstars in the history of sports.

Shaquille O’Neal Ends GOAT Debate Between Michael Jordan and LeBron James – “He Was a Different Animal”

LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, and Michael Jordan (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Shaquille O'Neal declares Michael Jordan the greatest of all time for his dominance and perfect Finals record.
  • O'Neal acknowledges his unique perspective from playing against Jordan and alongside LeBron James.
  • Kevin Durant emphasizes Jordan's cultural impact, stating it's greater than statistics or wins.

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the few superstars who can claim that he battled against Michael Jordan in his prime, and also played against and alongside a then-young LeBron James.

The center has talked about how His Airness pushed him into becoming a better player. O’Neal arrived in the NBA as a raw young talent for the Orlando Magic, but needed to be cajoled into fulfilling his potential.

That led him to win four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. After that, the Diesel, in search of a fifth champion, happened to play with LeBron James.

Later, after retiring, Shaquille O’Neal watched his former teammate become one of the greatest to ever play the game, which is why he is in a unique place to comment on the GOAT debate.

Mike is the greatest of all time because of how he played, how he dominated, and he never lost in the finals… I played with Kobe. I know what a killer he was. But to me, as a kid and going against him, then being the only guy to beat him in the playoffs for him to retire after three and then come back and get three, yeah, he was a different animal.

Shaquille O’Neal said

The former league MVP has in the past backed Kobe Bryant to be a part of the GOAT debate. However, while speaking on his Big Podcast with Shaq, he firmly reiterated that there is no better player in the history of the NBA than Michael Jordan.

Kevin Durant reiterates Michael Jordan’s impact on basketball

Even though many, such as Shaquille O’Neal, have firmly confirmed Michael Jordan as their GOAT, there is the fact that current generation players are passing the Chicago Bulls great in some statistical columns.

Michael Jordan working his way back from retirement in 1995
Michael Jordan working his way back from retirement in 1995 (Image via ESPN Insights/X)

Kevin Durant is the latest, after overtaking the billionaire NASCAR team owner on the all-time scoring list. But he reiterated his point that Jordan is bigger than the statistics.

MJ is just bigger than the game. I mean, no matter who passes him in stats or who wins more, it’s going to be hard to win. Go 6-0. Even if you were to pass him in anything, just his impact on the sport and just culture in general is just too big… It’s bigger than the stats with MJ.

Kevin Durant said on Boardroom

Durant reminded Boardroom’s host, Rich Kleiman, of how Jordan missed almost a full year due to injury, and then did not play for a few years when he was retired from the sport.

If he had all those games to his name, his career scoring average proves that Michael Jordan would have been higher than most on the all-time scoring record. Rather, it is his impact that supercedes his statistical greatness.

Kevin Durant still in awe of Michael Jordan

While talking about Michael Jordan on Boardroom, Kevin Durant continued to wax lyrical about how dominant the six-time champion was, even when he came in as a rookie.

For somebody to come in as a rookie to average 28 points a night, I don’t think we’ll ever see that again. That’s unheard of. The talent and greatness was there from day one.

Kevin Durant said

After this, when Kleiman asked the Houston Rockets forward if the slower 90s basketball helped Jordan play to his strengths and dominate, Durant replied that even then, the Bulls star had to dominate if they were to succeed.

That slower era also had its own problems, and despite that, Jordan was averaging previously unheard of numbers. That continuing even when he had Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman around him was proof that No. 23 was in a different league.

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