With the NBA All-Star Game just days away, there is plenty of talk surrounding the league's star players. Front and center will be LeBron James, as he participates in yet another edition of the game. However, it will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of the Hornets, a team with Michael Jordan's presence. With LeBron the league's top superstar of this era, it has raised popular questions about his greatness compared to not only Jordan, but another Laker's great as well.

Pippen weighs in on LeBron James

Scottie Pippen is quite familiar with Michael Jordan's greatness, as he was his Chicago Bulls All-Star teammate for many seasons and all six of their NBA championship runs.

LeBron James has won multiple championships and achieved quite a bit in his career. However, some feel he isn't on the level of Jordan. Pippen agrees, and also feels he may not be on Kobe Bryant's level.

When speaking with Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman of the "ESPN First Take" crew, Pippen offered his hot take reasons why he thinks MJ and Kobe Bryant were better players.

Basically, Pippen believes that LeBron lacks what Bryant and Michael Jordan had. Pippen said "When I look at LeBron, he's not what Michael was as a player. He's not even what Kobe Bryant was as a player." Pippen added that when it comes to "his ability to take over games, his ability to want to have that last shot" LeBron lacks that gene.

MJ and Bryant had it, according to Pippen.

Pippen mentions other stars who have it

Scottie Pippen said he sees a little bit of it in Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook. He also mentioned that Westbrook said he was born with a certain gene and if a kid is born without that certain gene, they can't bring it out.

It may seem disrespectful to LeBron fans out there, but Pippen feels his reasons make sense.

Interestingly enough, LeBron has achieved more championship rings than any of the other players Pippen mentioned. However, he's been to plenty of NBA finals and missed out on winning titles. Some of LeBron's backers will mention that his greatness of just reaching the finals is enough proof.

His latest goal seems to be winning with the Los Angeles Lakers. A recent groin injury kept LeBron sidelined for many games. However, most analysts and fans believe that the Lakers won't win a title until the team adds more stars to its lineup. Some might argue that both Kobe and MJ had at least one All-Star teammate during all of their title wins or attempts to win titles. The Lakers recently tried to make an offer for Anthony Davis but were unsuccessful.

That said, it should be interesting to see if LeBron James is on a mission to win that NBA All-Star MVP Award on Sunday (February 17).

With Michael Jordan watching, could it be a statement game for LeBron? He's previously said he wants to continue to win but really doesn't have much to prove at this point. It should be a fun All-Star Weekend in Charlotte!
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