2011 NBA Finals: LeBron James Responds "I'm Not Better Than Jordan"

LeBron James demonstrated two rare qualities on Saturday: humility and maturity. 

With a proper estimate of himself, James responded to the comments made by NBA Top 50 player Scottie Pippen.

Rather than basking in the fact that Pippen suggested that he was better than six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan, James told the Sun Sentinel that he didn't see himself as being better than MJ.

"Michael's an unbelievable player," James said Saturday.

"I've got a long way—long way—to be mentioned as far as one of the all-time greats. Not even just Jordan. There's a lot of great players who have played in this league. Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, all these guys who are floating around with multiple rings, Bill Russell, all these guys who have pioneered this game.

"I'm gracious. Humbled by Scottie's comments, especially with him being a teammate of his and seeing Michael on a day-to-day basis. But as far as me, I'm not going to sit here and say I'm better than Jordan. I'm not better than Jordan."

It is refreshing to hear James defer to some of the greats of the game and recognize that part of the final assessment of league greatness has to do with championships, not just individual awards and accomplishments.