The NBA just announced that the regular season MVP awardee will now receive the Michael Jordan Trophy to honor the legacy left behind by the Chicago Bulls icon. It was inevitable that the conversation would steer toward the never-ending GOAT debate between Jordan and LeBron James.

It's not exactly settled whether getting an award named after you impacts a player's legacy, but it's no surprise to see MJ supporters touting the honor over their LeBron counterparts. NBA Twitter was full of such reactions:

A handful saw the NBA's decision as an insult to LeBron, who owns four of them and is still going strong in Year 20. With every possible angle being leveraged in the GOAT debate, it's clear that the Lakers star's supporters didn't agree with the move.

Related NewsArticle continues below
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives by San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) in the second quarter in the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center.
Ranking the 10 best NBA Playoffs debuts in recent memory
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is helped off the court by after an injury in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) gestures at Madison Square Garden. Tatum would leave the game with an injury after this play.
Celtics vs. Knicks Game 6 injury report features 1 player besides Jayson Tatum

A few Michael Jordan fans are hoping LeBron manages to win one more just for the hilarity that would ensue. Having to accept the MVP award named after the man he's been chasing throughout his career would certainly be a bittersweet moment, if not for King James himself but the his supports who've argued adamantly against MJ over the years.

https://twitter.com/NBAmemeIG/status/1602679571630854144

There's no question that LeBron James will eventually leave behind a legacy worth of an award being named after him. But with the MVP and most other titles already taken, Hardwood Paroxysms had a facetious idea of what award fits him: Executive of the Year for LeGM.

At the end of the day though, it's just an award name. It's still the awards won as players that ultimately matter the most in such debates. Michael Jordan may have gotten another accolade much later in his career, but LeBron has one huge edge over MJ in the pursuit of greatness: he's still playing and adding to his legacy to this day.