Who takes title now? Lebron James vs. Michael Jordan

The discussion on whether LeBron James can be better than Michael Jordan is back, and the outspoken Charles Barkley once again comments on James and Michael “His Airness” Jordan.

“I do think he can be better than Michael,” Barkley said. “I thought I would never compare somebody to Michael Jordan. But this guy, LeBron James, he does everything well. Michael did everything well. LeBron James is just bigger, stronger, faster. That’s the only difference.”

The debate has existed for years. Jordan is often regarded as the greatest player of all time, but James and his unprecedented athleticism have made many think he could someday surpass the six-time NBA champion and basketball icon.

James is coming off a summer where he won his first NBA Championship with the Miami Heat and won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. After many years of falling short in the postseason and the subsequent attacks on his mental strength, the feeling is that these triumphs could be the spark to propel James past Jordan in the conversation about who is the greatest of all time.

In a team sport where individuals receive all the glory, the greatest players are judged by how many times they can lead their team to the ultimate victory. James has proven himself capable time and again of carrying his team on his back, and he now has the duo of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to help him. However, James’s chances of winning multiple championships in the near future have drastically decreased given the blockbuster off-season the Los Angeles Lakers orchestrated, acquiring Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison.

Many believe the Lakers are now the team to beat, and we could very well witness a league dominated by Los Angeles for the next few years.

James, the most athletic player to play ever the sport, will never surpass Jordan in eyes of the majority — unless he wins six championships.

Karthik Ramakrishnan. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.