Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Michael Jordan was LeBron James' childhood hero and the reason he wore No. 23. But James doesn't expect to have a relationship with Jordan until he's done playing basketball.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025“Me & Michal Jordan are in a good spot..
I hope that we talk more when I’m done playing..
Me & Kobe never had a real relationship until we were at the Olympics together..
We were like family once he retired & I became a Laker..
MJ doesn’t wanna talk to me until I’m done” … pic.twitter.com/axbmfJJvQk
In an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," James revealed that he and Jordan "don't talk," but he explained that it isn't due to any rift between them.
"I think it's because I'm still playing," said James, who has been the subject of perpetual debates about whether he or Jordan is the greatest player of all time. Because of that, he doesn't expect to have a relationship with Jordan "until I'm done and he doesn't have to look at me running up and down wearing the No. 23 and every time my name is mentioned, it's mentioned with his."
There doesn't appear to be any outward bitterness between the two greats. The two shared an embrace at the NBA 75 celebration in 2022.
James and Jordan are both Nike athletes as well. In the past, Jordan has taken signing with rival shoe companies personally, like when he promised Dee Brown he had to "kick your a-s on and off the court" after Brown won the Slam Dunk Contest wearing Reebok Pumps.
But James thinks it's a matter of Jordan still seeing him as a rival, revealing that his relationship with Kobe Bryant was also distant before Bryant retired.
"Me and Kobe never had a real relationship either," James explained . "We were on the Olympic team, we had a great relationship there, but it was always competitive between us." That continued until Bryant retired in 2016 and James joined his Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
That may be why Jordan has more of a relationship with James' close friend Dwyane Wade, encouraging him before the 2010 All-Star Game. While Wade is a Hall of Famer, he was never a threat to be the GOAT like James is.
In fact, the lack of relationship between James and Jordan may give fuel to the Jordan supporters in the greatest player debate. How competitive is Jordan? So competitive that even at age 62, he doesn't talk to LeBron James. Maybe he will some day, but not while there's still time left on LeBron's clock.
Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com
