They've won 10 NBA championships between them, dominated their respective eras, and are universally regarded as two of the greatest players to have ever graced a basketball court.
Sadly, their career paths never crossed, with 'MJ' retiring in 2003 just months before a youthful James made himself available for the NBA draft.
But that isn't to say that Jordan, 58, didn't inspire the current Los Angeles Lakers star. In fact, details have emerged of a chance meeting between the two in 2003, shortly before Jordan retired for the third and final time.
James, 36, was born just months before Jordan made his NBA debut but has previously admitted he grew up idolising the man dubbed 'His Airness' as he himself made waves on the high school basketball scene.
And the two saw each other when Jordan visited Cleveland in 2003 to play for the the Washington Wizards. As always, the superstar arrived in his usual attire, a suit in pristine condition, while a starstruck James donned more casual wear and a baseball cap.
Jordan asked James about his mother and later the two players started talking basketball, with Jordan saying: "A dribble, you stop and shoot. That's the move I want to see you do.
James smiled and replied: "This is my boy ."
Of course, at the time neither knew that such a simplistic conversation would be portrayed as the passing of a baton, and both have met numerous times since.
And while the career total of four NBA titles for 'King James' still lags two behind Jordan's, he is the only player to have won championships with three different franchises as the finals MVP.
And the debate as to which of the two should be considered the greatest fiercely divides opinion throughout the sport, with Chicago Bulls icon Jordan himself recently admitting that fan opinions were likely to be swayed by the eras they've watched most intently.
“So, in essence, it’s all elevated on who is watching now," said Jordan, now owner of Charlotte Hornets franchise.
"If you ask 20 years from now, I’m pretty sure LeBron may be me, you know, based on who’s going to be making the voting.
"If you ask me, I can never give you an opinion about things like that because as an athlete, all you want to do is be the best athlete you can do.“
For James however, the immediate focus may not be on his legacy but on bouncing back with the Lakers next season, after the franchise were eliminated in the first round of the 2021 play-offs by the Phoenix Suns.
