Lebron Surpasses Jordan As Greatest Player? No Way, Says Wade

Veteran Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade said in an ESPN interview that while ex-teammate LeBron James may duplicate Michael Jordan's legacy, it's highly unlikely that he could surpass it. 

Wade insists that the task of upstaging Jordan as the greatest ever is "not possible," reports ESPN. Using golf lingo to drive his point, Wade said that Jordan is at the 18th hole and that there is "no 19th hole." Engaging the ESPN with his golf analogy, Wade stated that LeBron is in the 15th hole and is on track to reach the 18th.

Growing up in the Chicago area, Wade watched as the Jordan-led Bulls of the 90s captured six NBA title. He later won three championships with the Miami Heat, two alongside LeBron.

Wade described LeBron as a phenomenal player, someone who carries a 6-8 frame but is as fast as any point guard and is a power off the boards just like centers in the NBA. He added that LeBron's title-clinching efforts with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the last season considerably boosted his stock. However, he still rates Jordan as the all-time greatest basketball player, which is hard for anyone to surpass.

LeBron heroically led the Cavs back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the formidable Golden State Warriors, averaging 36 points, 12 rebounds, 9.7 assists, three steals and three blocks per game, with 51 percent field goal shooting and 42 percent 3-point conversion, CBS Sports noted.

After that he was often mentioned among the greatest basketball players of all time. LeBron has so far won three NBA championships, two of them with the Miami Heat playing alongside Wade. 

Meanwhile, LeBron also made a reference to comparisons with Jordan in a Sports Illustrated interview over the summer, saying that his motivation is chasing the "ghost" who "played in Chicago". He was quoted by SB Nation as telling Associated Press that it is his personal goal to surpass Jordan, although he never brought it up in conversations.