Michael Jordan’s Agent, David Falk, Disrespects LeBron In All-Time Rankings

Michael Jordan’s longtime agent, David Falk, stirred controversy at the SBJ’s 4se conference in Manhattan this week when he took a not-so-subtle jab at LeBron James during a fiery Q&A session. Falk, who has long been considered one of the most influential agents in sports history, didn’t hold back when asked about his all-time NBA rankings, and his comments instantly made waves in the basketball world.

To no one's surprise, Falk named Michael Jordan as the greatest player of all time. But what truly caught everyone’s attention was what came next. When asked who ranks second on his GOAT list, Falk responded with either Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Kobe Bryant, noticeably leaving LeBron James off the top tier. 

When pushed further about whether LeBron even cracks his top 10, Falk replied, “Probably,” before delivering what quickly became the quote of the day.

“I really like LeBron. But I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would’ve won 15 championships.”

It’s a stinging critique that echoes what many old-school basketball purists have long argued, that LeBron James' career has been shaped by his own hand-picked superteams, from Miami to Cleveland to Los Angeles. Yet this perspective ignores the different eras and the vastly different levels of organizational support that shaped each superstar's path.

Yes, Jordan never left the Bulls to join another team, but the Bulls also gave him every reason to stay. They drafted Scottie Pippen, a top 50 player of all time and an elite wingman. 

They eventually brought in Phil Jackson, perhaps the greatest coach in NBA history. Jordan got to play with Dennis Rodman, arguably the best rebounder and defender of all time, and key role players like Toni Kukoc, Horace Grant, and John Paxson, all of whom delivered in critical playoff moments. 

Jordan was the engine, the alpha, and the closer, but his success was also made possible by a franchise that built around him smartly and aggressively.

Contrast that with LeBron James' early career in Cleveland, where the two teammates he played with the longest were Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao. The Cavaliers consistently failed to surround him with the kind of talent and stability necessary to win championships. 

If the organization had drafted wisely, built better rosters, and shown real vision, LeBron might have never left his home-state team. But he did because he had to.

LeBron’s numbers still speak volumes: in his 22nd season at age 40, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game while shooting over 51% from the field. No player in NBA history has sustained excellence at this level for as long as LeBron has.

Falk’s comments are sharp and reflective of a deeply entrenched loyalty to Jordan. While his critique of LeBron may resonate with some traditionalists, it also overlooks the complexities of career context, team-building, and longevity. 

The GOAT debate may never be settled, but dismissing LeBron as a “probable” top-10 player feels less like analysis and more like an agenda.