Michael Jordan Declares LeBron James Best Current NBA Star Over Kobe Bryant

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the best and brightest star to ever play in the NBA, so whenever he's dishing on the league's top stars, you can be certain that it'll draw the attention of fans everywhere.

Before the 2013-14 season got under way, His Airness made waves by saying he could take down LeBron James in a game of one-on-one while each was in his prime. The reason the statement had such a resonance among fans is because Jordan also said he wasn't sure if he'd be able to beat Kobe Bryant in the same setting.

When you have Jordan, LeBron and Kobe on the same court—even when it's a hypothetical one—it's always a slam dunk to elicit a number of feelings from basketball junkies.

Now, Jordan has chimed in on LeBron once again. 

In an interview with the Associated Press, Jordan admitted what most have already recognized as the obvious truth: LeBron is currently the best player in the league:

"

It's hard to pick. It's hard to say the best player. You would have to say LeBron because of what he's capable of doing. Kobe is coming off an injury and you don't know where he is going to be at his age. I would have to say LeBron.

"

Before the Kobe defenders jump up in arms at the notion of Jordan declaring LeBron best because we don't know what we'll expect from Kobe, let me make something clear: Jordan is right, and it has nothing to do with Kobe's injury.

Right now, LeBron is clearly the best player on the planet. His numbers resemble those from a video game, and his best performance is so much greater than his peers that it almost looks as if he's toying with the opposition at times.

Jordan validating LeBron as the best in the league has to make James feel like a king, but something tells me this will only add more fuel to the fire for Kobe's return from his Achilles injury.