During a discussion in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump weighed in on the long-standing debate over whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. While acknowledging the debate often stems from the fact that the two stars played in different eras, Trump avoided statistical comparisons and instead expressed his personal preference for Jordan.
Trump described Jordan as a friend with whom he plays golf, calling him a really good guy. In contrast, the president directed criticism toward James, stating, "I think Lebron is – maybe he’s a racist. Maybe he doesn’t like Trump. But I only like people that like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way."
The tension between Trump and James has been public for some time. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, previously criticized the president during an interview with Don Lemon on CNN. At that time, James remarked that Trump was using sports to divide the country, a sentiment he stated he could not relate to. Trump responded to those comments on Twitter by insulting Lemon and suggesting that James had made the host look smart.
LeBron James has enjoyed a decorated career, playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. On July 24, he made headlines for signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jordan, now retired, secured six championships with the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s and earned two Olympic gold medals, famously taking a two-year hiatus from the sport at the height of his career to pursue baseball.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said basketball star LeBron James is “maybe a racist” when asked how he stacked up against Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
Because James and Jordan didn’t play in the same eras, fans debate who is the best player ever.
