When Dwyane Wade Called Michael Jordan His Goat, Not LeBron James

• Dwyane Wade is officially in the Basketball Hall of Fame
• He recently called Michael Jordan his GOAT, snubbing LeBron James
• Wade and LeBron were in the same draft class and won two NBA titles together with the Miami Heat

The NBA GOAT debate is a touchy subject for many NBA fans. LeBron James and Michael Jordan are usually the two sides pitted against each other in the debate.

For Dwyane Wade, Jordan is his GOAT, not his close friend and former Miami Heat teammate James.

From being selected in the 2003 NBA Draft to winning two NBA championships with the Miami Heat, Wade and James's bond is as solid as they come. James is NBA's all-time leading scorer, a record he took from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 2023.

The Los Angeles Lakers veteran will return for his 21st season in 2023/24, a testament to his longevity. He averaged nearly 30 points and 38 years last season and will be 39 in December.

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Meanwhile, Jordan has been retired for 20 years now and is arguably one of the biggest sporting stars of all time.

Wade on why Jordan is GOAT

The Miami Heat icon was recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, and Gregg Popovich.

In 2021, during an appearance in the I Am Athlete podcast, he explained why Michael Jordan is his GOAT.

"I come from a Jordan era. I am biased and I'm going to be biased until the day I pass away. Michael Jordan will be my GOAT," Wade continued. "I'm not taking anything away from LeBron. LeBron is amazing. But Michael Jordan is my GOAT," via NBC Sports.

Wade grew up in Chicago and is agemates with James, so it is understandable why he would say Jordan is his GOAT.

"For me, from Chicago, where I grew up, I made it out the hood because I seen a dude, No. 23, play the game of basketball at a level that I was like, 'I just want to do some of that'...LeBron will be the GOAT of this generation that watched him grow up, just like we watched Michael Jordan grow."

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James declares himself GOAT

Sports Brief also reported on James declaring himself the best player even as he closed in on breaking Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record.

He has been the best NBA player of the last decade, and some believe he, therefore, has a right to say he is the greatest to touch the ball.

James himself said calling himself the greatest was a result of his confidence, the skills he brings to the table, and the talent he possesses.