Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest NBA player of all time, built a legendary career with six championships, five MVPs, and 14 All-Star appearances.

Despite retiring in 2003, his influence on the game still remains strong, with fans and analysts often comparing him to today’s stars, particularly LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

Los Angeles Lakers star James has won four NBA championships and four MVPs. On the other hand, Curry, known for his incredible three-point shooting, has also won four championships and two MVPs with the Golden State Warriors. Together, LeBron and Curry are two of the biggest names in basketball today and are often compared to Jordan for their skills and impact on the game.

Back in 2019, Michael Jordan was asked in an interview which player he would rather face in a one-on-one game during his prime: James or Curry. Jordan said he would choose Curry because he thought his size advantage would help him win while facing James would be more challenging because of his strength and size.

“Well, I’d go against Stephen Curry because I’m a little bit bigger than him, so I could back him in, but LeBron’s a little bit too big,” Jordan said (as quoted by Sport Bible). He added, “If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question. And he’s going to say no question. [Curry] is a great player. Not a Hall of Famer yet, though. He’s not.”

LeBron James and Stephen Curry (Image Credit: Getty Images)
“Well, I’d go against Stephen Curry because I’m a little bit bigger than him, so I could back him in, but LeBron’s a little bit too big,” Jordan said (as quoted by Sport Bible). He added, “If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question. And he’s going to say no question. [Curry] is a great player. Not a Hall of Famer yet, though. He’s not.”

Moreover, Jordan’s comment about Curry not being a Hall of Famer caused a lot of debate. But in 2021, Curry said Jordan later admitted he now sees him as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

The Rivalry Between Two Modern-Day NBA Greats: LeBron James And Stephen Curry

The rivalry between LeBron and Curry has been a big topic among fans. From 2015 to 2018, James’ former team, the Cleaveland Cavaliers, and Curry’s Golden State Warriors faced each other in four straight NBA Finals, with the Warriors winning three of the titles. Despite their intense competition, James downplayed any rivalry with Curry. In 2017, he said, “I don’t have a rivalry with Steph Curry… It’s disrespectful to those other three.”

Both James and Curry have built outstanding careers. James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and, this season, made history by playing alongside his son, Bronny James, as part of the first father-son duo in the league. In contrast, Curry won another championship in 2022, and many people widely view him as the most excellent shooter in NBA history. His ability to shoot from long range has transformed NBA shooting.

Interestingly, Curry has also shown confidence, as Jordan has. When asked if he would choose himself over Jordan and LeBron in their primes, Curry said, “Yes,” showing his belief in his own abilities. While fans will never see a one-on-one game between these three legends, the debate about who would win still continues to keep fans in a frenzy. Their confidence in themselves is a reminder of their incredible skills and how much they’ve all influenced the game of basketball.