Even though I find him a front runner, and a fraud of a competitor, and at times hideously corny or unlikable ... LeBron is the 2nd greatest basketball player I've ever seen.
His resume is already stacked with 4x MVPs, 2x Rings, and 2x Finals MVPs. He's ONLY 29 still has room to add more to the resume. He's already firmly in the top ten. Eclipsed Hakeem, and Kobe on my all-time list. I think his ceiling is definitively top five all-time.
In terms of just pure game, talent, ability he's better than Magic, Bird, and Kobe. 2nd best perimeter player ever. Lack of heart, character, and true competitive fire along with career narrative will keep him from beating out Jordan. Even if he ends up aging well, and has greater longevity.
Think about how MJ is considered the GOAT, and he played baseball the last 2 years of his prime in '94, and the majority of '95. Really, truly think about that ...
He already should've won MVP in '89, '90, and '97. He left 2x potential MVPs, 2x potential Scoring Titles, and 2x potential Rings on the table. The '94 Bulls with MJ definitely beat Houston. '95 would be tougher still without an interior defender at the PF position.