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Mike Malone Reveals His GOAT & Explains The Difference Between LeBron James And Michael Jordan

Like many others, Denver Nuggets head coach, Mike Malone also jumped in on the greatest player of all-time debate. Malone at 49-years old was lucky enough to grow up watching generally accepted GOAT, Michael Jordan. In Malone’s 17 years of working in the NBA, he was also fortunate to coach LeBron James, who many people believe is a legitimate threat to Jordan’s GOAT status.

With the ongoing comparisons of Michael Jordan and LeBron James, coach Malone attempted to join the endless debate, while offering an interesting take, During a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday, Malone said: 

“It’s always an ongoing argument about who is the GOAT. Michael obviously is up there and is the greatest of all time,” Malone said Tuesday in a Zoom call with reporters. “There are not many Michael Jordans out there. I coached LeBron James for five years and have a great relationship with him. LeBron did not have the same mindset or killer mentality that Michael Jordan is supposed to have had. But LeBron James is arguably the greatest of all time as well.”

“Michael Jordan was not just a great player. He would reach into your chest and pull your heart out if he had to win a game,” Malone said. “You don’t see that really often. He had that killer mindset and brought it every single night. That’s why all of these many years later, he’s the greatest of all time.”

Per USA TODAY Sports:

Malone was an assistant coach of LeBron James during his first tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010. Despite watching LeBron dominate at a young age, it seems like LeBron’s former coach wasn’t enticed with the way he approached the game — comparing his mindset and killer mentality to Jordan.

The Jordan and LeBron comparisons are starting to get more interesting with many more fans and personalities joining the conversation. The debate is as hot as ever due to the release of the long-awaited ESPN documentary series about the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan — The Last Dance.