‘He had a scorer’s mentality’: LeBron James names the one player he’d want to play with from a previous era

Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James is widely recognized as one of the greatest—if not the greatest—players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, as evidenced by his illustrious achievements, including being the league’s all-time leading scorer.

James demonstrated why he remains a contender for the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) status, continuing to perform at an elite level at age 40 during the 2024–25 season. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, easily emerging as the Lakers’ best player. His intense dedication to diet and fitness, along with his refined skills, has put him on track to return for his 23rd season—breaking the record he currently shares with NBA legend Vince Carter.

Over the course of his 22-year career, James has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and currently, the Los Angeles Lakers. During this time, he’s played alongside numerous legends, and on a recent episode of his podcast Mind the Game, co-hosted with NBA great Steve Nash, James was asked by a fan which player from a previous era he would most want to play with. The superstar had only one name on his lips.

The four-time NBA champion—like many others—chose Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan.

“When you are talking about inspiration, there was nobody more inspiring to me than Michael Jordan. I think our games would have complemented each other well. MJ was a flat-out scorer. He had a scorer’s mentality,” James said.

“If I had to pick him—but I know I can’t pick him because I know how social media works. You’re going to be like, ‘Oh, you want to play with Michael Jordan too? You played with everybody else!’ I didn’t ask the question—I’m only answering it, guys,” he added.

King was in the building 😤 https://t.co/85FT4VLZCT

— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) June 21, 2025

Jordan and James are widely considered the two greatest players in NBA history, with the iconic duo winning a combined nine Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, 10 league championships, and 10 Finals MVPs.

Individually, Jordan won five MVPs, six NBA championships, and six Finals MVPs during his time with the Bulls in the 1990s. James has won four NBA championships, four MVPs, and four Finals MVPs.

The 40-year-old James recently revealed that while he shares a respectful relationship with Jordan, he hopes to one day have a “Kobe Bryant–type relationship” with the Bulls legend once he retires. He explained that he avoids reaching out to Jordan while still playing, due to his own competitive nature.

It will be interesting to see what Jordan has to say about James naming him as the one player he would most want to play alongside from a previous era.

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