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Shaquille O’Neal Settles Michael Jordan Debate Once and for All

Originally posted on AirJordanChronicles
By Nandjee Ranjan | Last updated Mar 23, 2026 8:58 AM ET

Shaquille O’Neal has long contended that Michael Jordan is the greatest hooper of all time. Rooted in Jordan’s dominance, legacy, and unparalleled success, his outspoken belief has been consistent for years now.

In one of the more recent instances, O’Neal has once again declared Michael Jordan the GOAT, backing it with an argument based on his unmatched 6-0 Finals record.

Shaquille O’Neal, during a recent episode of The Big Podcast, said, “Mike is the greatest of all time because of how he played, how he dominated, and he never lost in the finals. So, I know a lot of people going to see this like you said and ‘oh, he doing this and he do that.”

He continued, “To me as a kid going against him, then being the only guy to beat him in the playoffs for him to retire after three and then come back and get three, yeah, he was a different animal.”

Shaq says Michael Jordan is the GOAT because he never lost in the Finals

"Mike is the greatest of all time because of how he played, how he dominated, and he never lost in the finals. So, I know a lot of people going to see this like you said and 'oh, he doing this and he do… pic.twitter.com/pT3E2UTeGG
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 22, 2026

Shaquille O’Neal’s stance has remained unwavering despite the accomplishments made by generational players like LeBron James, who ranks 3rd in his list of all-time top 10 players.

O’Neal was not alone in his opinion, as it was also reflected by the culture; Michael Jordan won the “Greatest of All Time” category in The Athletic’s anonymous NBA player poll for the third consecutive time.

However, Jordan’s lead over James shrank significantly with every passing poll.

The Numbers Suggest a Change in the Tide for LeBron James

When the Athletic conducted its first anonymous NBA player poll with 127 players in 2019, Michael Jordan won the GOAT category, raking in 73% of the votes, while James came in second with 11.9%.

When the poll returned in 2023 with 108 participants, Jordan topped the category with 58.3% of the votes. James once again came second, this time earning 33%.

The 2024 poll saw the gap shrink even further, as Michael Jordan earned 45.9% of the votes, barely clinching first place, as LeBron James was right behind him with 42.1%.

While there hasn’t been a poll since, the numbers strongly suggest that LeBron James is all set to overtake Michael Jordan the next time around, as the 41-year-old’s enduring legacy on the paint is yet to slow down.

This article first appeared on AirJordanChronicles and was syndicated with permission.

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