For years, LeBron James has been widely regarded as the primary challenger to Michael Jordan in the ongoing debate over who is the greatest player of all time in NBA history. But the discussion is far from settled—and now Dwyane Wade has added his perspective.
In a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, Wade was asked about the topic, and his response was candid. “The GOAT conversations, what does that even mean?” he said. “When people talk about the GOAT, it’s the stories that people tell about you. It’s all about these things when it comes to being the GOAT.”
Still, the three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat didn’t avoid addressing the comparison between MJ and Bron. “I played the game of basketball because I saw Michael Jordan play. So, my vision of it is so different,” he admitted, suggesting that his admiration for the Chicago Bulls icon runs deep.
“I got a chance to watch that guy, LeBron James, up close and personal. I’ve never seen a better basketball player in my life,” Wade added, surprising many. “LeBron James is arguably a GOAT. He’s the GOAT to generations. But the generation before him, it’s very hard for people before him to call him their GOAT.”
Dwyane Wade #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat on court against the Indiana Pacers
For Dwyane Wade, the comparison between Jordan and James is especially personal. Born in Chicago in 1982, the former shooting guard grew up watching His Airness dominate the NBA with the Bulls, winning six championships. It’s no surprise, then, that he credits MJ as the reason he pursued basketball in the first place.
Later in his career, D-Wade had the chance to team up with LeBron, both on Team USA and with the Miami Heat. The duo played four seasons together in South Florida from 2010 to 2014, reaching the NBA Finals every year and winning two championships. That experience gave Dwyane an intimate look at LeBron’s greatness and plenty of insight to evaluate his GOAT credentials.
To reconcile these mixed emotions, Wade once shared a unique theory on how to compare players from different eras in the NBA. “The hotel has 30 floors. We talk about the access key; when I look at the game, I look at who has access to get to the 30th floor,” he said on his podcast The Why.
“The 30th-floor access key is winning… If you have not won a ring, it doesn’t mean you’re not colder than someone who has a ring. It’s just that you don’t have access to go to the ring floors,” Dwyane continued, before naming a few legends.
“Bill Russell‘s up there, Jordan up there,” said the Heat legend. While he didn’t specify where LeBron James fits into that metaphorical hotel, Wade did comment on his own standing. “I can’t go to 30,” he admitted. “I may be on floor 25, but I ain’t at floor 30. That doesn’t mean anything to me; it just means I don’t have access to go to that floor.”
