Back in 1984, when Michael Jordan made his NBA debut, the sport already had some legendary figures like Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Magic Johnson. But it was Jordan who put the NBA on the global map and by the time he retired from the game, the NBA was not just another sport but a part of the culture. Considering his contribution to the sport, Jordan has been the undisputed GOAT. No doubt about that. But things were about to change when an 18-year-old LeBron Raymone James made his NBA debut in 2003. No one could have predicted that he’d one day stand toe-to-toe with Jordan in the greatest-of-all-time conversation. In fact, early in his career, LeBron openly confessed his starstruck moment when he first met Jordan.

“When I met Michael Jordan for the first time, I literally couldn’t believe it was him. The dude looked like Jesus Christ to me. He was Black Jesus to me,” James said. Fast forward 23 years since his debut, that same starstruck kid has grown into a legend who’s now splitting the GOAT debate right down the middle—and one recent confession from another NBA great has only added fuel to the fire.

4x NBA rings, 1x ROY, 4x Finals MVP, 4x league MVP, 21x All-Star and what not. LeBron has not only won almost everything in the NBA, but the Lakers legend has also left behind MJ in career points, assists, rebounds, etc. And the Lakers legend is still going strong at 40. So, it is natural only to be in the same sentence as MJ. So, when Tracy McGrady was recently asked to name his GOAT, the decision seemed obvious for the Magic legend. While he did pick LeBron—but the Magic legend also raised some eyebrows, suspecting the legitimacy of those mind-blowing numbers.

The seven-time NBA All-Star believes that James isn’t tailing Jordan anymore. On the contrary, he’s in the same room as MJ. “I’m tired of this question, man. I hope we just did this question because what I’m witnessing now and in mighty means this doesn’t make him the greatest player to me. But, however, what I am witnessing, what my own eyes is watching a 40-year-old man doing the basketball court is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in sports,” McGrady said on the Make Shift Project podcast.

To play at the level James is playing and to maintain that consistency, it’s no normal feat, that’s for sure! But here comes the twist. The numbers seemed too good to be true for a 40-year-old. Although McGrady did not openly question LeBron’s legacy, the former shooting guard’s reply was enough to grab eyeballs. “It seems like he can play until he’s 45 or 48. I don’t know how he’s doing it. I hope it’s the right way. Because that would be devastating to our sport in this league.” He questioned. Averaging 24.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists at the age of 40 is something no one has ever seen before.

It’s so absurd that McGrady, who himself has not just seen but lived the action, finds it hard to wrap his head around. It’s making a superstar like him question if LeBron is doing it the right way. In the same podcast, while McGrady was full-on praise for James, he also could not hold himself back on LeBron’s 1-on-1 ability.

Tracy McGrady questions LeBron James’s 1-on-1 ability

Despite acknowledging LeBron’s longevity and greatness, Tracy McGrady couldn’t help but give a hot take on the LA Lakers superstar. The NBA Hall of Famer T-Mac shared his thoughts on King James, and while he appreciated his hard work and dominance, McGrady doubts that James could beat a lot of players in 1-on-1 action. Yeah! Playing 22 years on the highest level possible is still not enough to convince McGrady. “I think LeBron has been amazing for 22 freaking years,” McGrady said. “And he’s been the best basketball player for God knows how long. But if you put him in one-on-one, I think he’ll get crushed. Yeah, I think he’ll get crushed amongst guys that are actually in the NBA. And I’m sure LeBron would tell you that.”

It leaves everyone wondering, who in the NBA? Which player could possibly defeat King James? To our knowledge, LeBron is still hooping in the NBA and not just staying afloat. He’s balling in the league. So it feels like a pretty surprising take, especially coming from Tracy McGrady himself. It’s hard to imagine an average NBA player taking on LeBron and destroying him 1v1. McGrady further compared him with ISO players. “Because his game is naturally built for five-on-five. He’s not a one-on-one basketball player. Kobe (Bryant) is a one-on-one basketball player. Kyrie (Irving) is a one-on-one basketball player. James Harden, these guys are one-on-one basketball players. And LeBron can’t do anything with that.” T-Mac explained.

Well, LeBron James is an all-around player. He’s a tremendous passer and excels at team play. However, that’s not all he brings to the table! He’s also a 6-foot-9, 250-pounder with movement like a point guard and can score from the deep, mid-range, and dunk. To make our case, James has all the skills needed to thrive in a 1-on-1 contest. However, there’s only one way to put this take to rest. A one-on-one contest in the NBA All-Star weekend, just imagine how thrilling it would be if the league actually makes it happen. Until then, we can assume James can indeed win 1-on-1.