LeBron James has finally set the record straight about the long-standing rumor that he played in a pickup game with Michael Jordan at the age of 16.
LeBron, who is frequently compared to Jordan in basketball's GOAT debate, is said to have joined the Chicago Bulls legend on the court for a non-competitive session in his teens before eventually becoming a star in his own right.
And during an appearance on the NFL brothers Travis and Jason Kelce's show. New Heights PodcastThe Los Angeles Lakers icon was asked to clarify once and for all whether the urban myth is true or not.
“First of all, MJ, Antoine Walker and the rest of those guys didn't let the kids on the court at all,” LeBron recalled while confirming that the pick-up game happened.
'And I was 16 years old, I was in my second year of high school and it took me a while to get on the court.
'Usually when the older kids get tired and don't want to play anymore, they do whatever.
LeBron James has confirmed that he played in a pickup game with Michael Jordan at the age of 16.
LeBron has often been compared to Chicago Bulls legend Jordan in basketball's GOAT debate.
But I did it and I was able to get on the field. I was on the court with Michael Jordan, Antoine Walker, Penny Hardaway, Ron Artest, Michael Finley.
Travis then asked which NBA player was guarding him that day.
'Nobody. “I was helpless,” LeBron said before the Kelce brothers burst out laughing.
While he has never spoken about the pickup game, Artest, who spent more than two decades in the NBA, has previously spoken about a young LeBron showing off his talents on the court with the group of players that day.
“(LeBron) was cooking.” I was 15 or 16 years old posting, getting to the basket, and I was like, “This is going to be a big deal,” you know. And it sure was,” the former Bulls and Lakers forward said on NBA veteran Paul George's podcast in 2014.
'Three more years, and he's right there. In fact, he motivated me. When I saw that, I was motivated.”
He set the record straight about casual gaming on Travis and Jason Kelce's podcast.
Jordan, who won six NBA championships during two legendary stints with Chicago, would have been in short-lived retirement or drawing the curtain on his career with the Washington Wizards when the pickup game with LeBron occurred.
The latter has come to rival him in the all-time great discussion, having won four NBA titles and becoming the sport's all-time leading point scorer.
To list some of his other accolades; He holds the record for most minutes played and has also won three Olympic gold medals, in addition to 20 and probably soon 21 All-Star selections.
Having turned 40, the Los Angeles great recently became the first player to step onto an NBA court in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s.