LeBron James and Michael Jordan are frequently mentioned together due to their status as two of the greatest basketball players ever known. Despite sharing this extraordinary connection, it doesn’t translate into a personal friendship.
In a conversation with Pat McAfee, LeBron opened up about the current state of his relationship with Jordan, admitting that they’re not really friends at this point. As he put it, Jordan isn’t likely to buddy up with him until he’s officially stepped off the court for good.
“MJ doesn’t wanna talk to me until I’m done,” James noted, according to NBACentral.
Reflecting on his friendship with the late Kobe Bryant, James shared a similar story. During their active years in the league, they weren’t particularly close. However, once Bryant retired and LeBron joined the Lakers, their bond grew significantly.
James is hopeful that he and Jordan might forge a similar post-retirement friendship, though he acknowledges there are uncertainties. He speculated that perhaps Jordan is simply weary from constantly hearing the comparisons, seeing the number 23 on James’ jersey, and witnessing record after record being broken.
When LeBron finally decides to retire, it’s possible they could connect over their shared experiences and the monumental impact they’ve both had on the sport. After all, very few have experienced being hailed as the greatest of all time.
However, the timeline for such a friendship is uncertain, as LeBron continues to thrive on the court even at 40 years old. Given his current performance, it’s reasonable to anticipate at least a few more seasons from him. Once he does leave the game, there might be room to cultivate a closer bond with the legendary Jordan.
