Magic Johnson: Jordan is the Greatest Player in NBA History, with LeBron and Abdul-Jabbar Close Behind

On September 2nd Beijing time, NBA legend "Magic" Johnson recently gave an interview. When asked who he considers the greatest player in NBA history (GOAT), he chose Michael Jordan.

"I have to say it’s Jordan," Johnson said, "We have never seen anyone achieve what Jordan did. Beyond his remarkable athletic gifts, he was incredibly smart. After him, I believe two Lakers players follow closely: LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar."

"However, Jordan remains my top choice. Also, you have to include Bill Russell — 11 championship rings, which is undeniable," Johnson added, "When someone wins that many titles, they absolutely deserve to be in the 'greatest of all time' conversation, no doubt about it. Nowadays, people often compare Jordan and LeBron, which is understandable."

"But I still remember the moment in 1991: he was driving against us (the Lakers), took off with the ball in his right hand, tongue sticking out, while our players tried to block him," Johnson told reporters, "You must be too young; I suggest you look up that clip online. When he saw our defender coming at him, he switched the ball from his right hand to his left, his tongue shifted to the left as well, then spun and banked the shot in. That remains the greatest shot I’ve ever witnessed in my life."

Johnson was referring to the iconic shot Jordan made in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals, when the Bulls faced the Lakers.

Ultimately, Jordan led the Bulls to defeat Johnson’s Lakers in five games, securing the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship. This marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of dominance in modern NBA history.

During the 1990s, Jordan guided the Bulls to two separate "three-peats": winning championships consecutively from 1991 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 1998.

This brilliant period of dominance is a major reason why Jordan is still widely regarded as the "greatest of all time." Over his career, Jordan earned 6 NBA titles, 6 Finals MVP awards, 5 regular-season MVPs, 1 Defensive Player of the Year, and led the league in scoring 10 times.

As Johnson mentioned, LeBron James is currently recognized as the player closest to Jordan’s "greatest" status. In his career, LeBron has won 4 NBA championships, 4 Finals MVPs, 4 regular-season MVPs, 1 scoring title, and 1 assist title. Additionally, he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Johnson’s former teammate Abdul-Jabbar won 6 championships, 2 Finals MVPs, 6 regular-season MVPs, and 2 scoring titles over his legendary career. Although stars like Julius Erving believed Abdul-Jabbar was the greatest ever, that view is now held by fewer people. Today, the GOAT debate mainly centers around Jordan and LeBron, and their careers have been compared extensively.

When mentioning Julius Erving, Johnson also expressed respect for him while answering questions, recalling the iconic "skywalk" shot Erving made in Game 4 of the 1980 NBA Finals when the Philadelphia 76ers played the Lakers.

"And the 'Dr. J' skywalk shot against us back then, you definitely haven’t seen it," Johnson continued to the reporter, "Those two shots (Jordan’s and Erving’s) are the greatest I’ve ever seen in my life — simply unbelievable."