"The Chosen One" was the bold coronation on the cover of a major sports magazine featuring Ohio high school junior LeBron James . At just 17 years old, he was already touted as the next Michael Jordan .
Even in his early years, James was a physical marvel. The Akron native was bigger and stronger than most players, yet what set him apart was his incredible speed and agility for someone his size.
On the other hand, Jordan, in his early years, was known for his explosiveness. While he might not have been as physically imposing as LeBron, MJ had one of the quickest first steps the game had ever seen. He was smaller, but that didn't stop him from blowing past defenders with lightning speed.
Former NBA coach George Karl, who had coached for 25 years up to that point, shared some light on the stark contrast in the physical nature between these two superstars during the early stages of their careers.
"Mike learned he had to get in the weight room and get bigger," Karl said . " LeBron didn't have to do that."
The makings of a legend
When Jordan was 20, he was still finding his way, even competing for shots at North Carolina. At 20, James was already in his second year in the NBA.
Early on in the NBA, MJ would get bumped off his shots more often than he'd like. LeBron, meanwhile, had a different kind of physical presence from the start. At 20, he already had a legit NBA-level body at a burly 6-foot-8 and north of 245 pounds. That size wasn't just for show; it helped him endure the physicality and be dominant.
In 2002, the Akron native graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, one of the top sports magazines, marking his arrival on the national stage. Back then, breaking into the public consciousness required something big, like being on the cover of a magazine that printed over three million copies weekly. So, James built on that hype and took the league by storm, winning the Rookie of The Year and earning an All-Star selection in his second year.
"It's weird talking about a 20-year-old kid being a great player," Karl added. "But he is a great player, and he could be the best ever. He's the exception to almost every rule. His maturity is the thing that's the most startling about him. His basketball sense has gotten him to where he is."
Related: Stephon Marbury says Michael Jordan shouldn't be ranked in GOAT debate: "Kobe, then LeBron, and then you can pick guys after that"
Be like LeBron, not Mike
Since he retired in 2003, there has not been a true successor to Jordan. The Chicago Bulls legend had set the bar so high that no one seemed capable of creating the same kind of separation from their peers. Not even Shaquille O'Neal , despite memories of him as an unstoppable force in the early 2000s. Not Kobe Bryant , despite his greatness, didn't quite step into MJ's shoes either. After all, Steve Nash has more MVPs than Bryant, and you wouldn't catch anyone seriously comparing Nash to MJ.
Jordan's game was more vertical; his focus was on getting to the basket.
Some critics have tried to argue that MJ was "overrated" because he didn't face elite guards. But he was driving into the paint and finishing against some of the best big men of the era, including guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, and Bill Laimbeer.
Then came LeBron, whose dominance was just as undeniable but in a different way. The few defenders quick enough to stay in front of him were either dominated by his sheer size or power. Once James was in front and had his back against the defender, there was no stopping him.
Related: "I see now! You're trying to keep your distance" - Ahmad Rashad on how Michael Jordan was always step ahead of his rivals
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