Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003 with a lot of pressure. But even at just 19 years old, he carried himself well despite being tasked to carry a franchise.

He also had moxie even at a young age. He was confident about himself and how he could match up with the league’s marquee players. By his second season, LeBron, who was then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was named to his first All-Star Game and earned his first All-NBA nod.

According to former NBA player Rashad McCants, LeBron wanted to surpass the legendary Michael Jordan as early as 2005, citing a “high-table source.”

“He told me he had a conversation after the 2005 season, playing booray with LeBron,” McCants said on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast. “A bunch of m*********ers were at the table, and Bron just happened to say some s*** randomly: ‘I’m trying to make that other number 23 disappear.'”

United States guard LeBron James warms up before the men’s basketball gold medal game against France at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

McCants, who played five seasons in the NBA, added that the guys at the table reportedly doubted LeBron, who recently won his third Olympic gold medal.

“The guy who told me looked up, glanced at everyone else at the table, and said, ‘Good luck, young fella,'” McCants said.

Despite his countless achievements, LeBron has stopped short of proclaiming himself as the GOAT, although he said he always feels like he’s “the best to ever play this game.”

MJ praised the Lakers forward when he set the new NBA all-time scoring record in 2023. LeBron, meanwhile, has repeatedly credited the Chicago Bulls icon for paving the way for him.

While LeBron already surpassed many of Jordan’s numbers and milestones, the debate on who’s better than them will forever be unsettled.