Why Patrick Ewing picked Michael Jordan over LeBron James

"LeBron James is a great player in this era, but he is not Michael Jordan."

The debate about who the greatest basketball player of all time is has been ongoing for decades. And while many argue that there are worthy contenders, none have sparked more discussion than Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing shared his thoughts on the matter. As a former teammate and friend of Jordan's, Ewing had a unique perspective on the two players. When asked why he believes Jordan is still above James in terms of greatness, Ewing didn't hesitate to explain.

Michael Jordan was an assassin

Ewing knows first-hand how lethal His Airness was. After all, he was on the Georgetown Hoyas team that lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 1982 NCAA National Championship game, no thanks to Jordan’s heroic jumper. And when Ewing joined the NBA, he found out just how unstoppable Jordan could be, constantly falling short to Jordan and the Bulls.

Ewing emphasized, “LeBron James is a great player in this era, but he is not Michael Jordan.”

“You know it's two different animals. Michael Jordan was a killer, an assassin. LeBron is more like of a facilitator; he's one of the guys that you're gonna give the ball, and he's probably thinking shoot first before pass where Michael you give him the ball, he's thinking he's going to score 50 on you then he's gonna pass."

5 reasons why Michael Jordan is the GOAT of basketball 🤯🐐#nba #basketball #bball #michaeljordan #lebronjames #chicagobulls #nbafinals pic.twitter.com/FggqdOsoGg

— Trove (@findyourtrove) February 29, 2024

Knows what it’s like to have MJ as a teammate

While Ewing never got to play alongside LeBron, he did have the opportunity to play with Jordan as a member of the 1992 Dream Team. Known for its star-studded lineup, including names like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley, Ewing got to experience how ruthless Jordan could be, no matter how inferior the opponents were.

“The bottom line is, as players, we want to win,” Ewing shared.

“We always equate basketball to war. We always talk about the foxhole. Even though it's nothing like war, you know when you have somebody in your foxhole, you want to know if they have your back. And not to say that LeBron would not have your back, but I know what Michael brings to the table. And I would definitely would rather him.”

“We hated each other. It was extremely physical. It wasn’t really a foul until you drew blood,”

~ Patrick Ewing #NBA pic.twitter.com/1Sgn2YViWZ

— The Jordan Rules (@Rules23Jordan) March 6, 2024

Detlef Schrempf said the Chicago Bulls were nearly unbeatable in the 90s