Former NBA Champion Believes LeBron James Has ‘Surpassed Michael Jordan’ in the GOAT Debate

Last year, LeBron James won the SI Sportsperson of the Year recognition as well as the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. But his recent business moves hint towards the coming times when he can soon become the Fortune Business Person of the Year as well. 

He is already in his 18th NBA season and has enough fuel to continue for the coming years. This longevity is sure to expand his brand value, endorsement portfolio, and also get him the desired contracts along with massive business deals. With all of that, he’s also a vocal leader while raising social issues. Does all of this combine to make him greater than Michael Jordan?

LeBron James vs Michael Jordan: Time to declare the winner?

While many may rightfully disagree, a former NBA Champion and Bron’s teammate, Kendrick Perkins, has cast his final vote. The 36-YO retired player expressed in a recent interview, “LeBron has already surpassed Michael Jordan for his legacy. We’re gonna talk about off the court. Let’s talk about LeBron James as a businessman. What LeBron is doing right now as a player, still playing today, no other player has done.” 

LeBron James is building one business after another in a bid to take the corporate world by storm. He holds a great biz acumen and is someone who has been making tough financial decisions ever since he was a teenager.

The Akron Hammer comes from a humble background and knows the value of standing behind his community and making sound decisions.

Just as KP added, “He’s changed the minds of athletes today. We’re witnessing other athletes look up to LeBron James, go out there and actually venture off and do business while playing. We’ve never seen that before. Take Blaze Pizza company, LeBron James could’ve invested into Papa Jones, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, he took a no-name brand pizza company, invested, and put his face behind it, put it right on top with all those pizza companies.” 

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The GOAT leaders and their notable business moves

Ever since Michael Jordan signed the 1984 deal with Nike as a rookie, the brand has paid him over $1.3 Billion. Out of that money, a whopping $130 million reached MJ in 2019 alone.

His Air Jordan brand is a money-making machine that is the leader in basketball sneakers all around the world. That helped MJ the most when he became the first-ever billionaire athlete in the world. Apart from that, his highness owns the Charlotte Hornets and also multiple restaurants, car dealerships, a Golf course, and whatnot.

When compared on the same scale, LeBron is ready to surpass MJ with his business moves. Apart from Bron’s shoe line and his successful businesses like Uninterrupted and SpringHill Entertainment, he now has more wings attached.

Recently, Bron became a partner in the Fenway Sports Group that automatically made him a part-owner in Boston Red Sox (MLB), Fenway Racing, and NESN among others. Plus, it is poised to increase his 2% stake in Liverpool FC as a consequence. 

It is still tough to compare those business projections in monetary terms, but Bron’s impact is only bulging. Can he really surpass MJ in all those areas? Only time will tell.