“You never saw that happen with Michael Jordan”: Phil Jackson explains why he doesn’t rank LeBron James in his Top 5

Phil Jackson is widely regarded as the greatest head coach in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, a reputation built on an unparalleled record of success and sustained excellence. Jackson’s 11 NBA championships as a head coach remain the most in league history, a testament to his ability to manage elite talent, egos, and pressure at the highest level of the sport.

Jackson famously guided the Chicago Bulls to two separate three-peat championships, first from 1991 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 1998, during the franchise’s golden era led by Michael Jordan. He later added a third three-peat to his already illustrious résumé with the Los Angeles Lakers, steering the team to consecutive titles from 2000 to 2002 behind the dominant Shaquille O’Neal–Kobe Bryant tandem. Now 80 years old, Jackson remains a towering voice in basketball discourse, with his opinions carrying significant weight due to his firsthand experience coaching many of the game’s all-time greats.

When Jackson speaks about players—particularly those involved in historical debates—his words are rarely ignored. In a recent interview promoting his new book, “Masters of the Game,” the legendary coach offered a candid assessment of LeBron James, revealing why he does not rank the NBA’s all-time leading scorer among his Top 5 players of all time.

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Jackson revisited the long-standing Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate and pointed to what he believes is a defining difference between the two superstars. While acknowledging LeBron’s immense talent and longevity, Jackson argued that James showed moments of vulnerability in pressure situations that he never saw from Jordan.

“The things that were disappointing about LeBron were things that turned him into self-reflection, I would call it. Or you could see him, you know, fold a little bit in the course of a game or in the course of a series. And, you know, the number of series in the finals that he has been a losing part of are painful because I know what that’s like to have lost in the finals as a player and as a coach,” Jackson said.

Which is The MOST UNBREAKABLE record in NBA History

51,000 Career Points — LeBron James
OR
6-0 in NBA Finals (2 3-peats) — Michael Jordan. pic.twitter.com/I0zjdQGxwr

— Hoops (@Hoopss) January 20, 2026

“These are the things that kind of haunt you. And I think it was kind of haunting. Those are the things that have kind of, you know, remarked about his career, where you never saw that happen with Michael Jordan, where there was a sense of quitting or a sense of defeat,” he added.

LeBron’s résumé remains one of the most decorated in NBA history, highlighted by unmatched longevity, scoring records, and sustained elite performance across multiple franchises. However, Jackson maintained that individual milestones and statistical dominance alone are not enough to eclipse Jordan’s legacy in his eyes.

For Jackson, championships remain the ultimate standard by which basketball greatness is measured—a belief shaped by decades of competing at the highest level.

“Better is only about championships, I think that’s the only measurement that’s left for LeBron that will say he was a better ball player than Michael,” Jackson concluded.

Jackson’s remarks are sure to reignite debate among fans and analysts alike, as discussions surrounding basketball’s greatest player continue to span generations. While LeBron James’ career is still ongoing, Jackson’s perspective underscores how deeply Jordan’s six NBA titles—and his unblemished Finals record—remain embedded in the sport’s definition of greatness.

As one of the few figures who coached Jordan at his peak and observed LeBron’s career from afar with a critical eye, Jackson’s assessment adds another authoritative voice to one of the NBA’s most enduring and polarizing conversations.

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