LeBron James vs Michael Jordan — the debate never seems to end. At one point, fans could be highlighting the similarities between the two and then the differences in the very next instance. The most recent discussion on Gil’s Arena has brought out the latter of the two. The playing style differences would be obvious to most of the fans. But what about the difference in mentality?

Appearing on the podcast, ex-ESPN employee Bomani James highlighted something similar. “LeBron likes winning. Michael Jordan likes beating people… Michael Jordan would not enjoy winning that solitaire or winning at no video game against computer. He wants to beat people… He is a sociopath,” Jones said. The ex-ESPN employee further highlighted that LeBron, according to him, is not built that way. Kobe Bryant, yes, but not Bron.

Adding to the notion, Gilbert Arenas agreed that Michael Jordan despised losing. It’s nothing that every other basketball enthusiast does not know about Mike, but this discussion had emerged from the 1-on-1 capabilities of Jordan and Bron. “1-on-1 is not so much about winning as much it’s about ‘I want to beat this person that’s directly across me,” Jones said on the podcast. The debate, however, was not about figuring out who plays better in a one-on-one situation.

In fact, everyone on the podcast agreed on Jordan’s name. The points raised by Jones, too, were an explanation of why Mike is better in that department. And it has been no secret that Bron likes involving his teammates in the game as much as possible. The assists per game should reflect this better as Bron has averaged 8 or more APG in six seasons so far, while MJ had just one season where this happened. Clearly, Mike was someone who preferred carrying games on his own shoulders, especially in crucial moments.

This clearly gives him more opportunity to be a better one-on-one player. Thus, the actual debate on Gil’s Arena was along the lines of if LeBron cannot be better than Michael Jordan in 1-v-1, what rightful claim he has over being the greatest of all time? Then there was also a notion amid the discussion that one-on-one is not real basketball. Surprisingly, James seems to be in agreement with the notion, as per what Austin Reaves had once revealed.

“He (Bron) doesn’t play one-on-one. He said one-on-one’s not real basketball which I kind of agree with,” Reaves said, as per a recent article by Lakers Nation. Each to his own, but there is no denying superior 1-on-1 abilities can be a crucial differentiating factor in 5-on-5 gameplay as well. It wasn’t for nothing that MJ and Kobe had better faith in their own hands rather than their teammates. And this won’t be the first time anyway that the Chicago Bulls legend got called a name for his fiercely competitive nature.

The time Michael Jordan got termed a “psychopath“

On episode #1265 of The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan brought up a moment that shows just how intense Jordan’s mindset was. He recalled Mike’s Hall of Fame speech and pointed out it was not a “thank you” kind of speech for his coaches and teammates. “No, he’s still like f*ck you; remember when you said that, f*** you,” Rogan said.

Andrew Schulz, who was a guest on the show, tried to unpack what was going on in Jordan’s head. He suggested that maybe Jordan wasn’t playing for the love of the game anymore—he was obsessed with winning. “That happens when you don’t derive joy from what you do. You know, you drive joy from that outcome. You’re obsessed with the outcome,” Schulz said.

Subsequently adding to this, Rogan expressed his doubts if this kind of approach leads to greatness or “the path of the psychopath.” He mused that the best athletes often seem to carry a mix of self-loathing, ego, and intense anger toward their competition.

However, no matter the names, the fact of the matter is that His Airness‘ mentality got him 6 NBA championships. And that too, without ever having to play a Game 7 in any of his championship wins. A record (6-0) no one else holds.

Stay tuned for more updates. Join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host, BG12, sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.