David Falk, Jordan’s former agent and one of the most powerful people behind the scenes in NBA history, has sparked the ongoing discussion of who the best basketball player of all time is.  Falk, a trailblazer in the age of “super agents,” was instrumental in forming Jordan’s illustrious career, which included the establishment of the recognizable Air Jordan brand.

 Falk shared his thoughts on LeBron James’ place among the NBA’s greatest players at a conference hosted by the Sports Business Journal.  Although Falk rated LeBron in the top 10 all-time and recognized him as a great player, he controversially ranked him lower than Michael Jordan and other Lakers greats like Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The primary focus of Falk’s argument is LeBron’s free agency career decisions.  LeBron has purposefully transferred to teams with other elite players to increase his chances of winning a championship, in contrast to Jordan, who played his best years with the Chicago Bulls before spending a last stint with the Washington Wizards.  He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won the 2020 championship when Anthony Davis joined the team, rejoined the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

“I really like LeBron, no doubt,” said Falk.  “But if Jordan had been able to choose his teammates and teams like LeBron did, he might have retired with fifteen championships.”  This comment emphasizes commitment and domination inside a single organization throughout Jordan’s prime, highlighting Falk’s opinion that his legacy is even more remarkable given the many situations he endured.

 Falk’s rankings were unambiguous: Kareem and Kobe share second position, but Jordan is still unchallenged as the top player.  Despite his great regard, LeBron stands barely off the podium.  The ongoing discussion regarding how various career paths and team relationships impact the legacies of basketball’s all-time greats is energized by this viewpoint.