LeBron James Talks Michael Jordan Relationship, Says They're in a 'Good Spot'

LeBron James says he and Michael Jordan are in a "good spot" but can't grow their relationship further until James is retired from the NBA.

"We don't talk because I'm still playing, I'm still focusing on my craft right now," the Los Angeles Lakers star said in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday.

When asked if he and Jordan would connect after his playing career, James answered, "I would hope so."

James continued: "We all know MJ. ... He's one of the most ruthless competitors there is. And until I'm done, and he doesn't have to look at me run up and down wearing the No. 23, and every time my name is mentioned, it's mentioned with his— he's like, 'I don't want to f--king talk to you.'"

The Lakers star went on to compare the situation to his connection with the late Kobe Bryant.

James said he had a great teammate relationship with Bryant when they played together during the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but he added that they "never had a real relationship" until after Bryant retired in 2016 and James joined the Lakers in 2018.

"It was always competitive between us ... until I became a Laker, and then he retired, that's when our relationship became really, really good," James said. "He welcomed me, called me, 'Bro, anything you need in L.A., I got you. You're a Laker now. You're family.'"

James, who turned 40 in December, currently holds a player option for the 2025-26 season. He told reporters in December that he believes he could play at a high level for another "five to seven years" if he wanted to, but that he "isn't going to do that."

He has broken several of Jordan's records so far during his 22nd NBA season, including setting a new standard with 563 career 30-point games and becoming the oldest player to score 40 points in a game.

James, a four-time NBA champion, will next look to come closer to matching Jordan in another category— the Hall of Famer's six titles— by leading his team on a playoff run this spring. The Lakers currently sit a half-game back from the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 4 spot in the West.