USA TODAY

LeBron James Over Michael Jordan in GOAT Debate? Top NBA Draft Pick Settles Controversial Topic

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Brandon Robinson | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 10:33 PM ET

The debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the greatest basketball player of all time is a generational conversation, literally.

For San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, the answer is clear. While his bloodline runs directly through the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s; his father, Ron Harper, was a five-time NBA champion and Michael Jordan’s backcourt teammate; the younger Harper is planting his flag in the era he knows best.

“I go with what I see with my own two eyes,” Harper told me. “I didn’t get a chance to see the Michael Jordan era. I ain’t that old. I didn’t get to see the Michael Jordan era. I was able to see the LeBron James era.”

That LeBron-led era, which has spanned over two decades, left a powerful impression on Dylan, who was born in 2006 and came of age as James dominated the NBA landscape with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Still, family debates around the dinner table get lively when the GOAT topic comes up—especially with Ron Harper in the room.

“We go back and forth all of the time,” Harper admitted with a smile. “But he has great respect for LeBron.”

Though father and son differ in their perspectives, there's mutual admiration for the legends that shaped the league. And in Dylan’s case, LeBron’s career served as a blueprint; an example he could see in real time.

With Harper now entering the NBA as part of a rising San Antonio Spurs core alongside Victor Wembanyama, the GOAT conversation may eventually include him too.

But for now, the rookie’s position is simple: when it comes to greatness, it’s what you’ve seen that matters most.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: