Bulls rookie Noa Essengue weighs in on the Michael Jordan GOAT debate: 'Basketball changed with MJ'

Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune on Jul 8, 2025

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CHICAGO — Noa Essengue doesn’t want to pick sides.

But one basketball debate is hard to avoid in Chicago: Michael Jordan versus LeBron James.

When the Bulls drafted him last month, Essengue said he didn’t know much about Chicago but he knew the legacy of the franchise well. From draft night to his first week of practice at the Advocate Center, he has continued to praise the history of the team that chose him at No. 12.

“It’s one of the best franchises ever,” Essengue said Monday. “They’ve got six rings. Some big legends from here, the GOAT is from here. So it’s really cool to have the Bulls jersey on me.”

Throwing around the term “GOAT” opens a delicate debate in Chicago. In the city that Jordan built, new Bulls players often walk a tightrope to avoid offending the fan base with a potentially controversial take. Essengue is no different, despite his initial labeling of Jordan as the Greatest of All Time.

At 18, Essengue is part of a new generation of post-Jordan hoopers who are likelier to align with James as the face of NBA greatness. And he didn’t downplay his fandom of James, whom he considers to be Jordan’s equal.

Essengue explained that Jordan is the GOAT. But in his mind, that doesn’t rule James out of the conversation either.

“I’m from (the) LeBron era, so maybe in my mind I can go more with LeBron,” Essengue said. “Basketball changed with MJ — but it also changed with LeBron. So for me, it’s not easy to choose.”

That might just be a diplomatic answer from a Chicago newcomer. After all, Essengue got to town only two weeks ago. His introduction to Chicago has consisted of a boat tour, a trip to Navy Pier for the fireworks and a whole lot of basketball.

But while he gets to know his new city, Essengue isn’t trying to ruffle any feathers — so for now, the rookie is settling the GOAT debate with a tie.