Iman Shumpert weighed in on the GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and picked the latter as his man, while also explaining why.

Speaking on 247HH, Shumpert who played with James on the Cleveland Cavaliers outlined the now Los Angeles Lakers star’s psyche and why it made him his GOAT.

“I just put him, I told you Shorty, he just passed Mike [Jordan] on my list for the greatest. I get it, the greatest competitor to me is always going to be Mike. But as far as the GOAT, we talk about the greatest, we talk about what our minds should think of when we think of an NBA basketball player. Put Bron on the screen, Shorty. This is a mindset I’ve never seen.”

Earlier, he had moved from Jordan to James as his GOAT. “I just put my guard down and said Bron you the best, you got it… Greatest ever, you got it,” Shumpert said. “He (Michael Jordan) is going to be my favorite competitor ever, there’s no competitor like him but we’re talking about a face for basketball. LeBron James, you have done a phenomenal job, for real.

Shumpert, known for his vivid narrating style, most notably his Kobe Bryant tale where the latter gave him a masterclass of his greatness, didn’t mince his words when he called Jordan one of the greatest competitors in the sport, but ultimately, it was James who trumped in on his list.

Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Who Is The GOAT?

Looking at it from the numbers perspective, the comparison between these two players shows that Jordan has been far superior to James.

Our very own Eddie Bitar wrote a feature on what James still needs to do to surpass MJ as the GOAT, and clearly, there is quite a gap. It’s one person’s opinion of course, to choose who between the two is greatest, but there is no denying that James, in his 20-year decorated run in the NBA has built a case for himself to be in the GOAT conversation.