Isiah Thomas: LeBron James Likely A Better Athlete Than Michael Jordan

Isiah Thomas is weighing in on the debate over where Michael Jordan stands in the all-time annals of the NBA, and Jordan’s frequent on-court rival said His Airness is likely behind LeBron James.

Speaking to The Waddle & Silvy Show on ESPN radio, Thomas said the debate over LeBron vs. Jordan hinges on a few factors. But looking at it strictly on athleticism, LeBron beats Jordan, he says.

“They’re both great players, and they’re both great in their eras,” Thomas said. “In my era, we hadn’t seen an athlete quite like Michael Jordan. He jumped higher than everyone else. He was a little faster than everyone else and he was just the best athlete.

“LeBron James is the best athlete of today, and he’s probably a better athlete than Michael Jordan was. He’s bigger, he’s faster, he’s stronger.”

When asked who would win a head-to-head matchup, Thomas wouldn’t give a definite answer.

“Now when you put them out on the floor to compete against each other in different eras, it depends on which rules you’re playing with and which coach you’re being coached by,” Thomas said. “So there’s a lot that really goes into it.”

As Michael Jordan hit his 50th birthday, a debate has started over where he stands in NBA history — and if he could still step on a court today. While basketball pundits argue over whether Jordan’s superior conditioning and timeless skills would make him a viable player today, Jordan has taken to the court to prove he’s still got game.

Charlotte Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist told USA Today that he and Michael Jordan played one-on-one recently, and Jordan ended up winning.