Even after achieving superstardom, NBA stalwarts have never shied away from talking about their ‘Michael Jordan fanboy moment’. As one knows, in the 1990s, the league NBA and the sport of basketball were synonymous with the name Michael Jordan. As Jordan was then the face of the NBA, contemporary superstars grew up watching the Bulls icon. Popularly regarded as MJ’s successor, LeBron James, also once had such a moment. In a recent discussion, a biographer and author of the recent book LeBron threw light on the iconic meeting of MJ and LBJ.

For quite some time, the hoops world has been debating whether Jordan or LeBron is the ‘greatest of all time.’ This recent revelation about King James’ meeting with His Airness might altogether redefine that discourse.

Michael Jordan gave LeBron a rare gift during their first meeting

While Michael Jordan was ruling the sports world as the greatest athlete of the time, LeBron James was garnering attention as a high school talent. It was then that the two legends crossed paths for the first time. In the recent episode of The Colin Cowherd podcast, celebrated sports biographer and author Jeff Benedict weighed in on that special moment.

When LeBron and his long-time friend Maverick Carter were in Chicago, a trainer from MJ’s gym invited the duo to the place where MJ and many NBA stars worked out. Training at a space where the legendary Michael Jordan works out was more than a gift to the high school players. Adding to the mirth of the duo, they had a chance to see the legendary His Airness just before leaving the gym. What happened next will go down as one of the greatest episodes in basketball folklore.

READ MORE: LeBron James’ Teammate Locked in As He Faces His Former Team in the Play-In Tournament: “They’re in the Way of What We’re Trying to Get Done”

For LeBron, who got posters of Jordan all over his bedroom wall, seeing his idol was the experience of his lifetime. Fuelling the excitement of the young boy, MJ23 approached him and invited him back to the gym. “Michael did not give him advice, Michael is not that kinda guy. What he did give him was his cell phone number. Which to me is much more important than advice because of what it says to LeBron. Michael does not give his phone number out to anybody.”

“LeBron is now one of the few people in America who has Michael Jordan’s cell phone,” said Jeff Benedict, alluding to the rare meeting.

Did Jordan know he was meeting his successor?

While exchanging his cell number with the high school sensation, little did Jordan know that the boy will live to compete with him for the position of the greatest player of all time. Though MJ did not foresee a successor in LeBron, he did realize that there was a future in LBJ after LeBron debuted for the Cavaliers. Now, on the back of his longevity and scoring record, LeBron James is widely regarded by many to be the greatest of all time. Apart from fans from this generation, LeBron has even earned the stripes from some NBA veterans.

Anyhow, fans will indulge in the MJ-LBJ debate for a long time. However, amid the heated debate, the meeting of the ‘GOATS’ will go down in NBA history as a golden episode, don’t you agree?

WATCH THIS STORY: Ranking Kobe Bryant’s Five Championship Runs with the Los Angeles Lakers