LeBron James' playing days are not over, but we are nearing the end of his professional basketball career.
Set to join the Philadelphia 76ers for what he claims to be the final stop of his eventual Hall of Fame career, the "Greatest of All Time" discussions seem to just get louder as he gets closer to finally hanging it up.
This is a debate that will never be won or lost, as it's an opinionated topic on which everyone has their own thoughts. The older generation who watched Michael Jordan live tend to side with MJ as their "GOAT," while the younger generation who has lived through the LeBron James era tend to think differently.
Charles Barkley, a Hall of Fame player in his own right, played against Jordan, so he knows first-hand just how good the former Tar Heel was during his playing days. In fact, Barkley shared his very interesting "GOAT" rankings, one that might surprise you a bit.
Charles Barkley explains why LeBron James doesn't challenge MJ as the "GOAT"
On an appearance on The Stephen A. Smith show, Barkley provided his viewpoint on the "Greatest of All Time" discussion.
While most people rank Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the top two players ever, Barkley believes that LeBron is actually third on the all-time list.
Who does Barkley rank above LeBron? None other than Kobe Bean Bryant.
Charles Barkley explains why he ranks Michael Jordan ahead of LeBron James
— Isaac Bassey (@0xBassey) July 25, 2026
“LeBron’s the third best player I’ve ever seen behind Michael and Kobe.”
“If you don’t say he’s the greatest, people act like it’s blasphemy.”
“LeBron’s great, but my criticism is he always makes sure… pic.twitter.com/vpXVfqqNS9
Barkley went on to say how people make it seem like blasphemy if you don't consider LeBron the "GOAT," as his fan base typically gets very twisted when someone claims that Jordan sits atop their personal rankings.
He also provided some additional insight regarding the topic, noting one key factor that knocks James down a few pegs.
“LeBron’s great, but my criticism is he always makes sure he has the best players," Barkley said. "One reason I always give Michael the advantage is Michael got his head beat in by the Pistons and the Celtics. Then he said, ‘I’m gonna get bigger, stronger, faster.’”
Barkley's point is valid: LeBron has team-hopped in order to put the best team around him. Honestly, if you're a competitor, you're going to do anything you can to win, and based on the landscape of the NBA, James had to team up with other stars to win titles.
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Jordan, on the other hand, played in a much different era, one where loyalty was at the forefront of every decision. The way players were driven was totally different, as the best wanted to beat the best, not team up with them.
To most Tar Heel fans, Jordan will always be considered the "GOAT." In fact, there are many people who still believe Jordan's career tops anything LeBron has accomplished in many less years of playing the sport.
One thing that keeps getting lost in these types of discussions, and Barkley is to blame in this as well: regardless of how you view them, LeBron James has earned the right to be a certified top-two ranked player of all-time and deserves more respect from those who idolize Jordan as the "GOAT" of the sport.
Instead of debating this topic until we're all blue in the face, how about we just appreciate greatness and recognize that both players made a monumental impact on the sport of basketball?
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