Charles Barkley believes LeBron James still has a legitimate path to move ahead of Michael Jordan in the NBA’s greatest-of-all-time debate. The Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia 76ers star sees enough time left in James’ career for the conversation to keep evolving.

Barkley’s opinion carries weight because of his long history around the league and his connection to Jordan. Even with that background, he appears to view James’ longevity and continued ability to perform at a high level as major factors that could strengthen his standing in basketball history.

The LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate has long centered on different measures of greatness, including championships, peak dominance, awards and career length. Barkley’s latest stance suggests he believes the GOAT argument is not settled yet, especially if James adds more to an already unmatched résumé.

For now, Barkley is keeping the door open for James to reshape the discussion. His comments add another notable perspective to one of the biggest and most enduring arguments in sports.