Retired basketball legend Michael Jordan has no doubt that the latest batch of all-stars, LeBron James included, wouldn’t have stood a chance against him in a one-on-one matchup.
“This is the ESPN question,” Jordan said during a Q&A session marking at the 20th annual Michael Jordan Flight School in Santa Barbara, California, Sports Illustrated reports. “If I was in my prime, could I beat Lebron in a one-on-one game? No question,” before adding, “And he’s going to say no question.”
The response comes a few weeks after Cleveland Cavaliers forward James surpassed Jordan’s record for the most minutes played during playoffs.
Jordan also challenged Shaquille O’Neal’s theory that the top 5 Lakers players would have mopped the floor with the top 5 Bulls players by a 50 point spread.
“I think we would have killed them,” Jordan countered.
See Sports Illustrated's 100 Best Masters Photos
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com