Reggie Miller Played Against MJ, Kobe, And LeBron. Here's How He Ranks Them

Reggie Miller has quite a lot of claims to fame, but there’s one that doesn’t get talked about that often. Miller isn’t just a Pacers legend and an all-time great shooter: He also had the privilege of competing against Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James in his NBA career.

So, if Miller had to rank those three GOAT candidates, where would each of them land? In an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” the Basketball Hall of Famer answered this question. “To me, the best player of the three is MJ,” Miller said. “Then Kobe, and then LeBron. In that order.”

Miller’s evaluation is sure to draw the ire of LBJ fans, but he does know what he’s talking about. Throughout the 90s, Miller squared off against two different three-peat squads led by Jordan. The most memorable encounter between Miller and Jordan came in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 4, Miller infamously pushed off MJ to get free for a game-winning trey, giving Jordan a taste of his own crunchtime medicine.

As for Bryant, Miller faced him on the grand stage of the 2000 NBA Finals. Both elite shooting guards were seeking their first-ever championship, and in the end, the Black Mamba prevailed. “I got tattooed by MJ, I got tattooed by Kobe. At a high level,” Miller admitted.

So where does James’ greatness lie among these icons of the sport? Miller, who played seven regular season games against LBJ from 2003 to 2005, gave the King his flowers. “If you’re talking about careers, the best career out of those three is LeBron. Because of his longevity and what he’s done,” Miller argued.

In 23 seasons, James has garnered four NBA championships, four NBA MVPs, four Finals MVPs, 22 All-Star selections, and the top spot on the list of career scoring leaders. Though Jordan and Bryant have each won more titles than the Lakers superstar, James has put together an NBA career that may never, ever be matched.

Still, Miller insisted that Jordan and Kobe are above LeBron. “Career and player…there’s a difference,” he said. Now, let the fan backlash begin.