Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, has weighed into the NBA's greatest player debate, siding with Michael Jordan as the undisputed "GOAT". When asked to choose between Jordan and LeBron James at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year ceremony, Phelps made it clear where his loyalties lie.
For the swimmer, who won a record 28 Olympic medals, Jordan's dominance on the court was the inspiration he drew upon in his own sport. "No. 23, the original, the original GOAT," Phelps said with conviction, referring to Jordan's iconic jersey number and unparalleled achievements in basketball.
Phelps, who modeled his career after Jordan's discipline and dedication to perfection, believes that the Chicago Bulls legend was the benchmark for greatness in sports. "For me, Michael Jordan was always the one I looked up to and wanted to do what he did in basketball in the sport of swimming," Phelps explained.
The NBA's greatest player debate has been a contentious one for years, with both Jordan and LeBron James often coming out on top as the best of all time. However, for Phelps, there is no contest – Jordan is the undisputed king.
Other sports icons, including Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Diana Taurasi, were also mentioned in conversation with Phelps, but none could dethrone Jordan from his throne. Even Phelps himself admitted that he couldn't measure up to Jordan's achievements, acknowledging him as a role model for excellence.
With the 2025-26 NBA season underway, the debate shows no signs of dying down, but one thing is clear – Michael Phelps believes that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
For the swimmer, who won a record 28 Olympic medals, Jordan's dominance on the court was the inspiration he drew upon in his own sport. "No. 23, the original, the original GOAT," Phelps said with conviction, referring to Jordan's iconic jersey number and unparalleled achievements in basketball.
Phelps, who modeled his career after Jordan's discipline and dedication to perfection, believes that the Chicago Bulls legend was the benchmark for greatness in sports. "For me, Michael Jordan was always the one I looked up to and wanted to do what he did in basketball in the sport of swimming," Phelps explained.
The NBA's greatest player debate has been a contentious one for years, with both Jordan and LeBron James often coming out on top as the best of all time. However, for Phelps, there is no contest – Jordan is the undisputed king.
Other sports icons, including Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Diana Taurasi, were also mentioned in conversation with Phelps, but none could dethrone Jordan from his throne. Even Phelps himself admitted that he couldn't measure up to Jordan's achievements, acknowledging him as a role model for excellence.
With the 2025-26 NBA season underway, the debate shows no signs of dying down, but one thing is clear – Michael Phelps believes that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be inspired by his dedication and perfectionism? For me, it's interesting to see how he connected with MJ's style of play in swimming, but at the same time, it's hard not to feel like there are other legends out there, like Serena or Tiger 
. Maybe LeBron is just too active and dominating for people to settle on one guy? The debate will always be fun to watch, and I think that's what makes sports so great 
! It's dope to see someone who's achieved so much in their own sport giving props to MJ for setting the bar high in basketball. I mean, have you seen his Airness in action? The dude was a force to be reckoned with on the court 
. For me, it's all about respect – if Phelps is looking up to Jordan as a role model, that says a lot about what makes him tick 
. Plus, who can deny MJ's iconic status? He's been cemented in history books for a reason 
. I'm definitely Team Jordan, and now I feel like even more confident about it 
. Not saying Jordan isn't the GOAT, but it feels like they're just apples and oranges, you know? Like, can we even compare basketball to swimming? 
But at the same time, I get why Phelps would want to draw inspiration from someone who's known for their incredible work ethic and dedication... it makes sense in a way. Maybe it's not about who's better, but more about who inspired us to be our best selves 
. What do you guys think?
But for me, J.Mj's dominance on the court was always inspiring - it's not just about scoring points, it's about being mentally tough and dedicated to perfection 
. For me, it's always gonna be a close call between Jordan and LeBron - both have achieved so much in their respective sports 
... but I think LBJ's longevity and adaptability give him an edge 
. Guess you'll just have to agree to disagree with the GOAT debate 
I swear, the more I scroll through this forum, the more I want to take a break from it all... 
I've always been fascinated by how different athletes interpret greatness in their respective sports. For me, it's not about who's better than who, but rather what each player brings to the table that inspires us.
I mean, come on Phelps knew his stuff and he's stickin' to Jordan like glue, that's a fact! 
And as for Diana Taurasi? Girl bye, I love her in WNBA but she can't hold MJ's jock in terms of legacy. 
The GOAT debate is gonna be a long one with Phelps reppin' Jordan and everyone else tryna take his throne 
. But what I think is cool is how Phelps is drawing from his own experiences as an athlete to understand what makes MJ so special - it's not just about the numbers, but about the dedication and discipline he brought to the game every day 
. and ppl say he's not as clutch as Jordan? I've seen LeBron take over games in the last minute more times than I've swum a lap around the pool 
️
. I mean, everyone knows MJ is a legend on and off the court 
What about Steph Curry or Giannis Antetokounmpo? They're killing it right now too