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Gary Payton On GOAT Debate: “LeBron James Is By Far A Better All-Around Player Than Michael Jordan

Gary Payton was one of the best point guards to ever play the game. He is a one-time NBA champion, a nine-time All-Star, and a two-time All-NBA first teamer. Payton also made the NBA All-Defense First Team in 9 consecutive seasons and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996. Because of his elite and pesky defense, he earned himself a special nickname – ‘The Glove’. On top of that, Payton was one of the NBA’s biggest trash talkers, who, at times, wouldn’t shut up for one second of a game.

Payton shared an intense rivalry, that still last until today, as the world got to witness last year. During an interview for ‘The Last Dance’, ESPN and Netflix’s join production about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, Payton who was the catalyst of the defensive assignment, claimed that his defense took a toll on Jordan and caused the series to change.

But upon showing the same interview to Jordan, the six-time NBA champion laughed and said he didn’t have any problems facing The Glove. While Jordan laughing at Payton’s statement has become a meme in the meantime, Payton isn’t a fan of the scene, as you can imagine.

Payton now talked to Scoop B Robinson and when asked about the GOAT, he revealed that he believes LeBron James is “by far” a better all-around player than Jordan was, while also saying that you can’t pick one over the other because of them being different basketball players. 

“Two different basketball players. Jordan was a guy who he was going to make big shots. He’s going to take the ball every time and shoot it every time he has to. I think LeBron is an all-around basketball player.

If you ask me who is a better all-around basketball player, LeBron James by far. He does everything. He passes the ball better than Jordan, he can dribble it a little bit better than Jordan… shooting wise, I don’t think so, rebounding I think he did but Jordan did rebound.”

LeBron James, MJ comparisons unfair says @GaryPayton: “Two totally different basketball players. Jordan was a guy that he was going to make big shots. He’s going to take the ball every time and shoot it every time he has to. I think LeBron is an all around basketball player.” pic.twitter.com/2vAuybRdRe

— Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) April 19, 2021