Teague: James can make his teammates better, something Durant and Jordan cannot do.

On August 16, Beijing time, the debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James over who is the "Greatest of All Time (GOAT)" is one of the most discussed topics in the sport. Former NBA All-Star guard Jeff Teague believes that James has the ability to enhance his teammates, while Jordan and Durant do not possess this skill.

James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and is set to start his 23rd season. His duration at the pinnacle of the sport is unprecedented. Meanwhile, Jordan's performance in the 1990s—winning six championships and six Finals MVPs—was one of the most dominant eras in league history.

Although James is the highest scorer in league history, he is not a player who prioritizes scoring. He takes pride in his playmaking ability—the skill of initiating offense from the point guard position and making his teammates better.

Teague stated on a podcast that this is precisely where James differs from Jordan. He said, "Rather than scoring, James prefers to deliver spectacular passes. In high school, he would get very excited when he made an impressive pass. I think that gives him more satisfaction than scoring."

“I believe that is what makes him so great—his ability to elevate the team's level. You know my opinion on Kevin Durant; I think he is one of the greatest players ever, but I don't believe he has the capacity to lead a questionable team and elevate those players to a specific level.”

Teague mentioned that only the greatest players in history possess the ability to elevate their teammates. He continued, “You must be a transformative player. That’s what makes Chris Paul special, and it’s also what makes James very special. There are very few who can do that.”

“Even Jordan couldn't do it. He really didn't make his teammates better. He just motivated others to improve. He would challenge Scottie by saying, ‘You have to be stronger, you have to do these things.’ He led the team by example.”

Jordan is one of the greatest leaders in NBA history. Over six seasons, he carried the Chicago Bulls to championships while constantly pushing his teammates off the court. But on the court, he prioritized scoring.

He would pass the ball in crucial moments, including Steve Kerr's iconic game-winning shot in the 1997 NBA Finals, but Jordan's approach to the game is completely different from James'.

Doc Rivers mentioned that although James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, Jordan's scoring ability was stronger. He said, “If Michael had played for over 20 seasons, he would likely be the all-time leading scorer.”

Someone suggested to Doc Rivers that James is a more efficient scorer, but he stated that efficiency is a modern NBA concept, and players in the 1990s did not care as much about shooting percentages.

Teague agreed with Rivers' perspective. He said, “However, he is 100% right. We don't care how many shots Allen Iverson, Kobe, or anyone else took. If they shot 40 times and scored 45 points, that’s what matters.”

“If they are hot in the fourth quarter and win the game, that’s what we will remember. We don’t care if they missed their first 15 shots.”

His viewpoint has an example: in Kobe Bryant's iconic final game, he scored 60 points on 50 shots. No one remembers, nor do they care about his shooting percentage. Sometimes, it's best to set aside the data and simply enjoy those moments.