Former NBA champion Mario Elie spoke in a recent interview with Willie D about playing against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. He talked about how he and the Rockets wanted to compete against Jordan. Elie then chastised LeBron James and the modern NBA stars for wanting to form superteams with each other and compete.
“I was just excited (to play against Jordan). Mostly, because, it’s competition – that’s what you’re in the league for. I need to try and stop this dude… We had success in Houston against him. That was the cool part about it, beating him a couple of times. A super talented player, this dude was so good…”
“Our team, none of us backed down from him. We loved competing against him. That’s what you’re in the NBA for. All these guys want to join each other and play with each other. No, I want to beat you! LeBron, you say you’re the GOAT, why are you joining Bosh and D-Wade? We weren’t doing that in the ’90s.”
“Like Dream calling Jordan up saying ‘You want to link up?’… I want to beat you! I don’t want to join you. These boys want it easy right now. It’s the AAU era… LeBron wants Anthony Davis and you’re talking about (how) you’re the GOAT? Come on, man. Great player, love him, but everybody wants to play buddy ball instead of just having elite competition.”
(1:16:56 onwards)
Elie would know how difficult it was to compete with Michael Jordan. He is perhaps the only player who can say he benefitted the most from Jordan retiring from the NBA twice, as he won his first two championships with the Rockets in 1995 and 1996. And then, when Jordan retired once again, he joined the Spurs and won his third championship.
LeBron Vs. Jordan Is A Never-Ending Debate
The discussion about who the better player is between LeBron James and Michael Jordan will perhaps never end, and the discourse got relitigated this week, after LeBron James helped Team USA secure the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and was named the Olympic MVP for his sensational performance.
James had a great run with Team USA, where he averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks in six games. He was Team USA’s most consistent performer and played a massive role in them securing the gold medal.
Kendrick Perkins even believed that James winning his third gold medal made him the GOAT, clear of Michael Jordan, who only won two Olympic gold medals in his career. But not everyone agrees with Perkins, as Stephon Marbury claimed that LeBron James belongs nowhere near Michael Jordan in the GOAT discussion.
In fact, Marbury doubled down, claiming that LeBron James would have to surpass Kobe Bryant in his career before he can even be compared to Michael Jordan. Clearly, this debate is just going to continue, as neither side is going to concede and accept that the other player is better. Regardless, there is no denying that both LeBron and Jordan are two of the best to ever do it.
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