Colin Cowherd Praises LeBron James for Taking Backseat, Says Michael Jordan Couldn’t Do It

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are building momentum as they head toward the playoffs. Currently on a four-game winning streak, the team notched another impressive home win against the Chicago Bulls. It’s fitting that James helped defeat the Bulls, as a top sports media member used his performance to discuss another aspect of the popular GOAT debate between James and Bulls icon Michael Jordan.

Colin Cowherd Praises LeBron James for Accepting Reduced Role

Famous sports media personality Colin Cowherd declared that James deserves credit over Jordan in the GOAT debate for embracing a supporting role. “I said this year is going to be different. The difference between in-shape skinny Luka still in his prime and LeBron, the gap’s gonna be huge. And Lebron’s gonna have to learn for the first time in his career to play off the ball all the time,” Cowherd said.

“But what really happened this year that makes it even tougher for LeBron is that Austin Reaves has popped, and now LeBron should probably have the ball as a third offensive option on the Lakers.

So to ask a guy who was the face of the NBA for 20 years, hey, we not only need you to be off the ball with Luka, but Austin Reaves as well, it is a big ask. I don’t think Michael Jordan would have done that.”

Cowherd added, “But Lebron’s always been a winning player; he deserves credit for committing to this kind of basketball.”

“To ask a guy that was face of the NBA for 20 years, ‘Hey, we not only need you to be off the ball with Luka, but Austin Reaves as well.’ I don’t think Michael Jordan would’ve done that.”@colincowherd thinks LeBron deserves credit for taking a backseat this season pic.twitter.com/ahQw1tIig2

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 13, 2026

James played a relatively small part in the Lakers’ 142-130 win over the Bulls, scoring 18 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. The night belonged to the Lakers’ high-octane backcourt of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Dončić destroyed the Bulls, finishing the game with 51 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Reaves scored 30 points and also supplied quality playmaking with seven assists.

ALSO READ: Luka Dončić Jokes Being a ‘Pain in the A**’ Is What Made Him ‘Good at Basketball’ After 51-Point Night Against Bulls

As Cowherd points out, James has a clearly reduced role for the first time in his career. That James would defer to Dončić in the twilight of his career isn’t that surprising.

After all, James often talked about former Lakers co-star Anthony Davis eventually taking over. The surprise is Reaves’ emergence, which will likely lead to James leaving the organization this summer.

Michael Jordan’s Final Season Offers a Comparison Point

While Jordan played alongside another all-time great, Scottie Pippen, and made key passes to shooters like Steve Kerr and John Paxson during the NBA Finals, he’s always been an alpha.

Perhaps the only debate is Jordan’s final season with the Washington Wizards in 2002-03. Two-time All-Star Jerry Stackhouse led the Wizards in scoring that season, but Jordan was still the clear alpha. Even Stackhouse admitted that he was overshadowed by Jordan despite being an All-Star in his prime.

While some may argue that James taking a clearly reduced role hurts his GOAT case, Cowherd believes he should be praised for putting his ego aside to essentially allow Reaves to ascend.

It’s also worth mentioning that Cowherd has named Jordan as the GOAT. The debate will take another turn after the playoffs, as James’s sacrifice could help the Lakers make a deep playoff run, or their defensive issues could lead to a quick exit.