"He is Magic Johnson" - 3× Super Bowl champ picks between Michael Jordan & LeBron James as Patrick Mahomes best comparison 

Viewed as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Michael Jordan is often used as a measuring stick when new superstar talents emerge. Amid his recent success, one analyst compared Patrick Mahomes to an all-time great in the NBA.

After taking down the Buffalo Bills in the conference championship on Sunday, Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are one win away from completing a three-peat. As they chase history, the panel on ESPN's "First Take" tried to give an NBA comp for the star quarterback.

When asked if Mahomes draws more comparisons to Michael Jordan or LeBron James, Shannon Sharpe had a different view. The three-time Super Bowl champion went with neither and picked a star just a tier below them.

"If you look at the first eight years of his career," Sharpe said. "He's Magic Johnson. Because Magic won in '80, he won in '82, he won in '85."

At the age of 29, Mahomes has already built up the resumé of an all-time great. He's won three Super Bowls, has three Super Bowl MVPs and won two regular season MVPs. Still in the early years of his prime, he is on pace to go down as one of the greatest players in NFL history.

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Longtime analyst compares Patrick Mahomes to Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods

While Shannon Sharpe discussed Patrick Mahomes in view of a Michael Jordan comparison, another analyst feels a different way. Not only was the Kansas City Chiefs star put in the same breath as the Chicago Bulls legend, but another legendary athlete as well.

During Monday's episode of his podcast, Colin Cowherd gave his thoughts on Mahomes after their win over the Buffalo Bills. He compared Mahomes' ability to step up in the postseason to that of Jordan and Tiger Woods.

"Watching this, there's an MJ/Tiger Woods feel," Cowherd said. "There's regular-season Mahomes, there's playoff Mahomes, then there's Mahomes in Super Bowls and getting to Super Bowls."

When it comes to elevating his game in big moments, Michael Jordan is among the best. He never backed down in an important game, especially in the NBA Finals. Jordan's relentless competitive spirit is a big reason why he ended his legendary career with an undefeated record on the biggest stage.

While he already has an impressive list of accomplishments, it might be a bit premature to compare Mahomes to Jordan. Nevertheless, his ability to perform in crucial games does draw a lot of similarities to the NBA icon.