Tennis Stars Select Michael Jordan As The GOAT, No One Even Mentioned LeBron James

Some of the best tennis players in the world named Michael Jordan as the GOAT of all non-tennis sports.

5 Min Read

Credit: Fadeaway World

Michael Jordan was a popular choice amongst some of the best tennis players in the world when asked who the greatest of all time outside of their own sports was.

American players Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton were Team Michael Jordan alongside China Masters winner Hubert Hurkacz and Stefanos Tsistipas. 

Jannik Sinner chose Kobe Bryant, while Sebastian Korda chose Tiger Woods. Both Daniil Medvedev and Diego Shwartzmann named a fusion of two soccer plays, with Medvedev choosing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Shwartzmann picking Messi with Diego Maradona. 

It’s fitting that Hurkacz named Michael Jordan, as he channeled that spirit to win the 2023 Shanghai Masters, entering the competition as the 16th seed and going all the way to win the tournament. He beat one of the people who appeared in this video as well, prevailing over Korda in the semi-finals before winning it all.

Michael Jordan was no stranger to winning it all, even winning this unofficial poll amongst the brightest stars in tennis. Even though Kobe was mentioned, LeBron James‘ name was noticeably absent in this conversation, showing he still had a long road before he could rest on the throne as the NBA GOAT.


Charles Barkley Feels Strongly About Michael Jordan Being Better Than LeBron James

As these players showed, the average fan still looks at Jordan as the gold standard of the sport. Winning in everything and Jordan won everything. So has LeBron, but Jordan’s individual heroics for his comparatively shorter prime will make him seem more mythical than LeBron. But people who’ve seen both play, like Charles Barkley, don’t understand how LeBron is better than Jordan.

“I love LeBron. I love LeBron. But most of these people who are defending him as the greatest ever probably have never actually seen Michael Jordan actually play. The closest they’ve come is that documentary that came out, ‘The Last Dance.’ But they ain’t actually never seen Michael Jordan play.”

We are 25 years removed from Michael Jordan’s last championship win with the Chicago Bulls in 1998. That means that there are full-grown adults who weren’t around to see Jordan in his prime but grew up watching LeBron in his prime instead.


LeBron James Supported By His Own Agent

James has an argument to be made for the GOAT debate, but that argument isn’t voiced by many so far. One of the biggest proponents of that argument has been Rich Paul, one of LeBron’s closest friends and longtime agents. 

“Mike transcended the game. When Kobe came, Kobe was a silhouette of Mike. That’s everything, which is great. But LeBron is the first player to have to deal with a 24/7, 365 news cycle of sports and opinions from those who are not even capable or carry the expertise to give a valid opinion… I just think LeBron’s antlers are in platinum, and Michael Jordan’s may be in gold. Why? Because he had to be compared to Mike. Who did Mike have to be compared to?”

This is a very unsubstantiated argument, as Jordan had his own share of media critics piling up. The 24×7 news cycle has amplified the noise against LeBron, but it’s dishonest to say that Jordan didn’t have more critics other than Peter Vecsey. Jordan was also held down in the greatest debates with the likes of Jerry West and Oscar Robertson until he made his case indisputable. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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