Former top-10 pick makes bold comparison between LeBron James and Michael Jordan

Comparing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and former Chicago Bulls winger Michael Jordan is one of NBA fans' favorite pastimes.

Both superstars' careers are filled with unforgettable moments and unparalleled achievements. Many feel the need to choose between the two, and a former top-10 NBA draft pick has weighed in on the debate.

“LeBron James can walk in the same room,” TJ Ford said on “Ur Perspectives.” “He can walk in the same room as Michael Jordan. His impact around the world is the same as Michael Jordan's. It looks different, but it's the same. LeBron James did the same things that Michael Jordan did.”

The debate over the greatest player of all time (GOAT) is endless, with Jordan and James being the favorites. Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell, six-time MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and four-time MVP Wilt Chamberlain are just a few other players who regularly participate in these debates.

Like Jordan and James, this quartet not only excelled on the court, but also became urban legends for their talent. For players like Russell and Abdul-Jabbar, their public stance on civil rights issues also contributed to their popularity.

Off the court, James combines Jordan's business acumen with the social conscience of Russell and Abdul-Jabbar. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry may have changed the way the game is played, but James changed the way they get paid. As Ford notes, when you consider everything he has to offer, James is in the same league as His Airness.

“When it came to the collective bargaining agreement, Michael Jordan helped improve financial stability for us athletes,” Ford continued. “LeBron James did that when he came in. LeBron James is a big part of the success, why we make so much money and why guys are making $50 million to $60 million now. He cut contracts. He was so ahead of his time, knowing the basketball business itself, that he changed the landscape of our contracts. He changed the landscape of the amounts of money we were signing for. His influence, if we put it all in a box to talk about his influence not only on the basketball court but on the business side of basketball, from a philanthropic standpoint. You have to respect that.”

Ultimately, there will probably never be a consensus on who the GOAT is. Still, there's no denying that James has done well. A four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP candidate, the Akron native is the most dominant force since Jordan. He's now the NBA's all-time leading scorer, in the top five in assists, in the top 10 in rebounds and in the top 10 in steals.

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