According to NBA players, the debate for the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) revolves around just two players, leaving everyone else far behind.

In a poll conducted by The Athletic, Michael Jordan narrowly surpassed LeBron James as the greatest player in NBA history, securing 45.9 percent of the vote compared to James’ 42.1 percent. Kobe Bryant followed in a distant third place with 9.8 percent, while Stephen Curry, Magic Johnson, and Paul Pierce each received 0.8 percent—equivalent to one vote each.

While the consensus among both players and fans typically recognizes Jordan and James as the top two players in NBA history, opinions often differ along generational lines. Younger fans, who missed Jordan’s prime, tend to favor James, while older fans, who witnessed Jordan’s dominance in the 1990s, staunchly defend His Airness.

Although The Athletic poll didn’t provide age data, it’s worth noting that the majority of NBA players fall within James’ age range. Even players in their late 30s were mere children when Jordan was dominating the league. Despite this, Jordan still commands immense respect, as evidenced by his victory over James in the poll.

One notable absence from the poll is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whose remarkable career achievements rival both Jordan’s championships and James’ longevity. The fact that Abdul-Jabbar received no votes while Paul Pierce did raises questions about the poll’s alignment with basketball history.

Ultimately, the debate over the GOAT is subjective and varies from person to person.