These NBA Legends Who Don’t Think Jordan’s the Greatest
Michael Jordan’s legacy is untouchable for millions of fans, but not for everyone who shared the court with him. Some NBA legends, like former teammates, MVPs, and Hall of Famers, don’t believe he deserves the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) title. Their reasons range from generational loyalty to personal matchups and even weird-scented mind games.
Scottie Pippen
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While most fans consider Jordan and his Bulls co-star a flawless duo, the six-time champion didn’t hold back when it came to the GOAT debate. Scottie dismissed both MJ and LeBron James, instead naming Magic Johnson the greatest for how he led as a rookie center in the Finals.
Julius Erving
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The ABA icon and one-man highlight reel had no doubt: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was his GOAT. To the man known as Dr. J, it was all about who loomed largest in his era. Kareem’s skyhook, MVP stack, and on-court dominance outshone anyone else for him.
Bill Laimbeer
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Laimbeer rarely sugarcoated things, and his GOAT pick wasn’t subtle either. In his view, LeBron James would dominate in any generation. He doubted that Michael could handle the same physical demands across eras. The rough-and-tumble rivalry between Detroit and Chicago left scars—and maybe some lingering bias—but Bill never wavered.
Walt Frazier
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New York’s smooth-talking floor general had a checklist—and MJ didn’t tick every box. Clyde argued that Jordan wasn’t the most versatile, most decorated, or highest-scoring player of all time. That, in his eyes, knocked the Bulls legend down a peg. Winning mattered, but so did being complete, and he believed others had the edge.
Mychal Thompson
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Before his son became a Splash Brother, the elder Thompson was winning titles with Magic in L.A. When GOAT talk came up, he pointed directly to Kareem. To the Lakers’ big man, the resume mattered: high school dominance, college perfection, and six MVPs at the pro level. That full-career excellence was impossible to ignore.
John Salley
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John Salley, known as the original “Spider,” had a unique angle: he played with and against nearly all the greats. Yet he left Michael Jordan off his Mount Rushmore in favor of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon instead. The four-time champion said Hakeem was the toughest player he ever had to guard, and Magic the most complete.
Shane Battier
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Shane Battier, Miami’s cerebral defensive specialist, once made a sly observation: LeBron James won two titles with him starting at power forward, something he doubted Michael Jordan could’ve done. The remark was delivered with humor, but the message was clear. Battier saw LeBron’s ability to uplift role players as unmatched.
Jason Kidd
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For one of the smartest point guards in NBA history, greatness pointed to longevity, leadership, and community impact when naming his GOAT. He’d faced both Jordan and LeBron, but the full package made him lean toward the latter.
Derrick Rose
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The youngest MVP ever made a surprising pick: Isiah Thomas. The Windy City native said the Pistons guard beat Magic, Bird, and Jordan in their prime; and did it all at 6-foot-3. Once an MJ supporter, the Chicago point guard later shifted to a local legend who overcame giants without towering over anyone.
Brandon Jennings
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Born in 1989, the former Bucks guard explained why MJ never cracked his top five. He simply didn’t grow up watching him. Brandon admired the players he saw firsthand: Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Shaquille O’Neal, and said highlight reels couldn’t replace lived memories.
Cedric Maxwell
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The Celtics champion brought up Bill Russell, and that was the end of it. With 11 titles, including one as a player-coach, Russell’s dominance made him hard to beat in Cedric’s mind. He also gave props to Hakeem for controlling every facet of the game.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Rather than argue, the six-time MVP dismissed the whole debate. He called the GOAT conversation a “fun distraction,” but fundamentally flawed. Players came from different eras, played different roles, and faced different conditions.
Chris Webber
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The former No. 1 pick never made a definitive GOAT claim, but one MJ memory still haunts him. Before a playoff game, Michael asked who’d be guarding him. Chris and Juwan Howard reflexively pointed at Calbert Cheaney. Big mistake. Jordan dropped 55. Webber later admitted he regretted it. He respected the dominance, but didn’t declare MJ the definitive best.
Magic Johnson
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The Showtime maestro has given MJ his due but has also been vocal in backing LeBron James. He’s said the Lakers’ superstar could dominate in any era and praised him as the most complete player of all time. Magic didn’t crown a GOAT outright, but his admiration for LeBron always felt a bit more pointed than his praise for MJ.
Michael Jordan
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The plot twist is that MJ doesn’t consider himself the GOAT either. In interviews with John Thompson and Michael Wilbon, he admitted the label made him cringe. Jordan said it disrespected greats like Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, guys he never got to compete against. His humility stood out, especially for someone so fierce on the court.