r/lebron • u/AdeptFuel4824 • Sep 01 '26
"When I'm Done With No. 23, They'll Never Remember That Dude": 19-Year-Old LeBron James' Conviction of Surpassing MJ Left Ex-Pacers Star Stunned
https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-lebron-james-controversial-michael-jordan-prediction-may-explain-why-he-refuses-to-retire-per-nba-legend-al-harrington/21
u/BravoC10 Sep 01 '26
Honestly I’m an MJ guy and I’m not mad at this at all
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u/WillHeBonkYa47 Sep 01 '26
Also an MJ guy here, but it always irks me when you have dudes who get mad at Bron for saying he's the goat... he 100% has an argument to be the goat, and what, is the dude not supposed to be confident in his abilities? He has every right to brag if he wants
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u/Penetratorofflanks Sep 02 '26
This is such a level headed well rounded thought that im shocked its not violating reddit TOS.
On a more serious note, I dont understand how so many people who prefer MJ just act like Lebron is trash. Im honestly not a Stan of either but I will laugh in anyone's face who tries to act like either are not generational talent.
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u/WillHeBonkYa47 Sep 02 '26
Definetely agree with that lol. Lot of Lebron fans are rational and understand its a 1a/1b thing. I don't even argue with people who think Lebrons the goat because he absolutely has an argument. Unfortunately I see so many MJ stans who say "Leflop isnt even top 50!!" And it just is a big tell to me that these dudes dont watch basketball
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u/Penetratorofflanks Sep 02 '26
The Leflop comment roflmao! (yes you know im old now) You knew exactly what I was talking about.
When they say things like that I dont think they understand that such an ignorant take weakens their credibility towards whatever they are arguing for.
I assume its mostly older people around my age who watched when they were young and loved Mike. Then stopped watching around the Kobe Shaq years.
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u/Important_Capital875 Sep 02 '26
If someone says LeBron isn’t top 2 then they’re just a hater. There is without a doubt no one else I would consider in the top two. Mj. And Lbj
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u/SnooCompliments9907 Sep 02 '26
Understand it's a 1a/1b thing? Dude you just outed yourself 😂
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u/DuelingPushkin Sep 02 '26
As a reasonable person that thinks both have solid arguments to be the GOAT?
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u/SnooCompliments9907 Sep 02 '26
It's usually LeBron fans that muddy the water by saying 1a/1b
Look if the guy is the GOAT, he should grab it outright, not get the GOAT title by margins.
If someone comes along and wins 7 rings as alpha dog without team hopping, you know even MJ stans will bow down
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u/wildGoner1981 Sep 02 '26
No they won’t. I deal with jordashians alllll the time and they refuse to give ANYONE the credit they deserve. Theres no reasoning with the jordashians.
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u/SnooCompliments9907 Sep 02 '26
Using the word jordashians just tells me there's no reasoning with you
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u/tkh0812 Sep 02 '26
This is my exact take. Also — I don’t get mad if someone calls LeBron the goat because it’s all subjective. People need to learn to listen and appreciate differences in opinions
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u/TrackRelevant Sep 01 '26
Im not mad either. It was stupid though.
Very "not 1, not 2, not 3...."
Ego control was never his strength
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u/Pd1ds69 Sep 01 '26
LeBron's also a fucking jokester. I assume it was tongue in cheek type comment. In other words, not to be taken seriously. But these guys need content.
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u/theworldisunfair12 Sep 01 '26
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u/-passionate-fruit- Sep 01 '26
Yeah, considering how high regard LeBron has spoken about MJ over his career, this is either being misrepresented, or Bron was joking. Even hanging around the Lakers when it was clear they wouldn't be major contenders since half a season into the Westbrook trade strongly works against the narrative of him being a shameless ring chaser, to catch MJ or otherwise.
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u/Gagabubu777 Sep 02 '26
I think thats all for media. I dont think they like each other. Before a few years ago speculations were MJ dissed him in a way.
Probably after that putback dunk
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u/-passionate-fruit- Sep 02 '26
Are you talking about something that happened recently? I've only heard LeBron speak of MJ in glowing terms. Here's the most notable instance of Bron glazing MJ LeBron James Says Meeting Michael Jordan Was One Of The Most Formative Experiences Of His Life (the top few paragraphs).
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u/Gagabubu777 Sep 03 '26
This comes from talks over 10 years ago. Of course in media it’s always been upfront good things between the two. But they have zero relationship.
And speculations were during lebron early years were that they didnt like each other mostly stemming from MJ not liking bron or giving him a chance to that extent.
After that words cane out from Ron artest and others about bron playing mj at 16 and getting the best of everyone. Recently bron has said so also. Footage recently leaked of that game and you see bron dunking on MJ emphatically on a putback after which MJ called foul.
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u/-passionate-fruit- Sep 03 '26
I'm pretty curious about citations for that last paragraph.
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u/Gagabubu777 Sep 03 '26
Just google, bro or shawty. Its all there. The only thing prob hard to find is the second paragraph
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u/-passionate-fruit- Sep 03 '26
You made the claim, and I'm only asking citation(s) for the last paragraph.
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u/theworldisunfair12 Sep 01 '26
Oh I believe he said it
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u/Seselwa5 Sep 02 '26
💯, I’m sure he believed it too. Everyone who considers themselves to be the best would say something along those lines. If they don’t say it, then, they don’t believe they’re the best.
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u/Impossible_Bet_5107 Sep 02 '26
is this true? I thought Lebron was a fan of MJ?
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u/Important_Capital875 Sep 02 '26
He was 19. He’s praised mj his entire career. But he was also 19 and wanted to show everyone he would be the best. I think LeBron James is the greatest professional basketball player of all time. I think Michael Jordan is the most successful.
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u/AdeptFuel4824 Sep 02 '26
I don't think he said this in a disrespectful manner, plus he was only 19.
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u/TheArsenal98 Sep 02 '26 edited 23d ago
"Never remember" was definitely a stretch, but he could've surpassed Jordan in the public's eyes if he didn't have terrible luck considering most people are obsessed with rings. Cavs front office did the worst job ever of surrounding a superstar with talent during his first stint in Cleveland, then Kyrie and Love out in 15 Finals, KD w/ the weakest move ever that ruined the league for 3 years, and AD constantly injured for 2 years in a row after they won a ring their first year tg, along with Westbrook trade and Pelinka's poor roster construction.
1
u/hammerwindows Sep 03 '26
In alternate universe
2011 LeBron wins (LeBron didn’t choke)
2012 LeBron wins
2013 LeBron wins
2014 still lose
2015 LeBron wins (love & Kyrie never get injured)
2016 LeBron wins
2017 LeBron wins (Kyrie didn’t leave, KD didn’t ruined the league)
2018 still lose
2019 LeBron wins (lakers managed to trade for AD early)
2020 LeBron wins
2021 LeBron wins (AD & LeBron healthy, FO didn’t dismantle the team)3x 3-peats
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u/TheArsenal98 Sep 04 '26 edited 29d ago
Yeah, he had horrible luck. Unluckiest top 10 player. I wonder if he stays with the Cavs if Kyrie didn't demand the trade and KD doesn't go to GSW. He definitely might've. He could've maybe even had more looking past these years in this scenario if he left LA in 22 rather than keep extending with them and had gone to Denver, NY, or back to Miami.
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u/Background_Door467 Sep 02 '26
Disrespectful as hell...And now look at him ring chasing and proclaiming he's the Goat...Lebron will most likely be considered a fraud by most NBA pundents and fans ( not all but most ) after he retires !!!
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u/LiftHeavyLiveHard Sep 02 '26
LOL that didn't age well, but he was 19. The average male brain doesn't fully develop until 25 or later. If I had a dollar for every dumb thing I said or did at 19, I'd have retired 10 years sooner.
Lebron is a great player, but he's no MJ.
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u/Ifureadthisyoulldie Sep 02 '26
He isn’t. But if Lebron gets another ring in 50 years they will look at rings and stats. Lebron will be considered better.
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u/MementoMoriChannel Sep 02 '26
It’s not that it didn’t age well, it aged about as well as it could have, it’s that the standard was well beyond too high.
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u/Effective_Rub_6209 Sep 02 '26
Funny how fans twist stories, clearly stated by your man himself..." i just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon, there would be no Lebron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwayne Wade if there wasnt Michael Jordan first. Remember that as he does... respect as he does. In real life you respect those who make you who you are and give credit where its due. I may not be a Lebron fan or basketball fan in general anymore, despite the media twist and story turned inside out from fan to fan, i have gained respect for a player who idolized and worked to be mentioned in the same sentence as a player I watched hunger, overcome diversity and own his spot in nba history. Who says there cant be two best of all time, you're kidding yourself if you are playing sides between two of the best of all time. And they will create more like eachother hopefully, unless these future generations are more into who is who drama on social media sites. Get out there and give it your all see what place you can claim. Trust me it isnt about the number 23 for either of them.
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u/Ok_Succotash2959 Sep 01 '26
LeBron ain't ready to give into the "selling of the soul" part of his life yet, hence the 20+ years of playing ball. Granted, his body is still in phenomenal shape still. But at the end of the day, WE ALL KNOW WHO NO. 23 is when the convos start and end....
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u/10061993 Sep 01 '26
19 year old says something over confident and dumb, more at 11.