All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. For James believers, his 10 Finals appearances are emblematic of LeBron's longer record of accomplishment. Michael Jordan was six and zero in the National Basketball Association finals, but he did not have the productivity like LeBron James did. Maybe it's a matter of taste. On March 28th, 2003 the ultimate rivalry took place between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. If I needed two points to win a title, Id take Jordan, said Bruce Bowen, an eight-time all-defensive team selection who played in the NBA from 1997 to 2009. He would get the bucket or get free throws. TheESPN documentary series "The Last Dance" showed a younger generation of NBA fans that Michael Jordan is much more than a guy who sells retro sneakers. Given the title Air-Jordan, winning dunk competitions, and bring joy to many fans watching his hunger for winning. Jay Williams explains why he credits LeBron James as the GOAT due to his willingness to speak out about social issues. Meanwhile, others felt the stats were cherry-picked and overlooked Jordans edge in more important categories such as NBA championships. Look back at Wilt Chamberlain's legendary NBA career. This still doesn't change the fact that Michael Jordan and LeBron James won 2 Olympic gold medals. BPM, VORP, handedness not available for WNBA. Outside of James, the most points scored by a player in their 20th season is Lakers legend Kobe Bryant at 17.6PPG. In the comments section. The underappreciated forward ranks 23rd in career points, ahead of West, Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird and, well, all but 22 guys. After 15 years in the NBA, Jordan finished his career with 5,633 career assists, while after only 13 years in the. The two are very arrogant and think very highly of themselves. 1 on his list of top NBA players of all time. James had a clear-cut advantage, with Jordan having averaged 22.9PPG, 5.7RPG and 5.2APG on 41.6% shooting, however, many fans took issue with the comparison. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Kia MVP Ladder: Picture remains as hazy as ever, MVP Tracker: Embiid puts up massive numbers, Kia Rookie Ladder: An abundance of talent, As usual, Paul taking teams to new heights, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays and strategy for Feb. 28, Durant expected to make Suns debut Wednesday, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 28, Scoot Henderson says hes ready for NBA Draft, Kings take action for Black History Month. Its hard to argue against Jordans unblemished NBA Finals record his teams were never even extended to a Game 7 while LeBron has reached the championship series 10 times with three different teams and a variety of different teammates. pointers and free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. Henry Aaron slugged 47 home runs in 1971, when he was 37 years old. It was the most the legendary Atlanta Braves star ever hit in a season, vaulting him into position to chase down Babe Ruths record of 714 in 1974. A new poll commissioned by ESPN in 2020 found that 73% of NBA fans believe Jordan is the superior player overall, and the Chicago Bulls legend swept all 17 questions comparing him to James by metrics both on and off the court. The first award we will look at is the R.O.Y award. Both players had long, high-scoring careers: Malone retired at 40, Abdul-Jabbar at 42. This still doesn't change the fact that Michael Jordan and LeBron James won 2 Olympic gold medals. Davis agreed, too, with a twist that neatly summarized these two greats differing approaches at this historic crossing. The two never met on the court; Jordan retired for the third and final time (as a Washington Wizard) two months before the Cleveland Cavaliers made James the No. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Jordan. We asked our ESPN Forecast panel a series of questions to get at the heart of the GOAT debate. OK, so Willis appeared in five games for Dallas after a full season away from the NBA. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes haven't been the only rookies to shine bright this season. TRB% since 1970-71. The Warriors dominated the series, winning four games to two. The better player of the two is, Jordan. Everything we did, we had to bet, Johnson recalled. He was listed on the Most Hated Persons n America in 2010. James did it last season and again this season. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The gap between him and the No. They are quick to show people that they are the best on the court. Please logout and login again. was the lightning in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be like him.. Two exceptional talents. LeBron has put up some unheard of and unthinkable numbers, while leading a team in 2007 to the National Basketball Association finals that had no other star players on the roster. However, LeBron James is still averaging around three times more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did in his 20th and final season. Jordans Bulls were favored to win all six times they reached the Finals, but James teams were the betting underdog seven of 10 times. In the 2007 NBA Finals, and again in the 2013 Finals after Bowens retirement, Coach Gregg Popovich instructed the Spurs to back way off James, limiting his passing windows and driving lanes. Look back at Elgin Baylor's legendary NBA career. When it comes to statistical comparison Jordan could be considered as better after winning six titles and its important to emphasize two 3-peats. This translated in outlawing defensive contact when a player is in the perimeter, which in turn allowed players to relentlessly attack the lane and score on spectacular layups or dunks in a manner similar to what Jordan popularized. Keep scrolling to see how long it could take James to catch up to their records. He lost one series as the favorite (2011 vs. Dallas) but led his teams to a pair of series wins as the oddsmakers underdog (2012 vs. Oklahoma City and 2016 vs. Golden State, when Cleveland memorably erased a 3-1 deficit to beat the 73-9 record-setting Warriors). The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. The only question now is, Who is the best, He has been to the NBA Finals six times and all six times he and the Chicago Bulls were world champions. He just punished you.. That was Michael Jordan every night.. Christie estimated 40 points per game. Through the age of 31, LeBron James has accomplished more than Michael Jordan did through his 19 year career. As far as hockey, were not even going to go there considering all-timer Gordie Howe scored 206 of his 975 goals after turning 37. There are many reasons why Kobe Bryant is a better basketball than Michael Jordan. However, Jordan has been much more loved by the fans than LeBron. While some differences between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are evident, the similarities are striking which caused the entire dilemma on whos the better version. There is an argument to be made for putting LeBron James over Jordan, and James' case only grew stronger after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Jordan backers can no longer shout "6-0" and declare it over. (greatest of all time), Id give the nod to Michael Jordan is because he had more of an assassin mentality, You cannot put that man in the same category as MJ right now, I love you, brother, but I have to go with Mike, MJ is the greatest basketball player of all-time, Thats just what separated Michael from everybody else including Magic, Bird, the greats of the greats, He is the greatest player in the history of basketball, Pelicans vs. Blazers: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Magic vs. Both had consistently high scoring outputs and very little time missed to injury, with Abdul-Jabbar only notably missing two months in 1977, having broken his hand while punching Milwaukee Bucks center Kent Benson in the jaw. 5 spot with 32,292. WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. So he only could play for the Lakers on weekend passes, traveling to L.A. or wherever else they happened to be scheduled. Last, the most significant difference in these two athletes is their game attitude. They revolutionized the game and brought a standard to be met- Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. (6:40). All rights reserved. For Jordan partisans, the Bulls' 6-0 record in Finals series is indisputable proof of his superiority. They are verbally aggressive and threaten people as they play. Doncic was on his way in his second season, posting his largest average to date. The moves they made were the exact same from the fade away jump shot, to the way they dunked the ball. Or should that be LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? Its important to keep in mind, however, that Abdul-Jabbar also started playing later, at age 22, because of stricter NBA eligibility rules at the time. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. However, Jordan was not only a basketball player, but someone who influenced the American culture and society. In conclusion, LeBron James is statistically a better player when it comes to all-around basketball. However, Michael Jordan was a much better scorer. He won more on the biggest stage, but failed often in the playoffs and rarely beat some of his greatest opponents. James played with better teammates than Jordan did. Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins are split on Isiah Thomas' comment that LeBron James will surpass Michael Jordan as the game's greatest if he wins a fourth championship. Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG). This one probably merits an asterisk, because the New Orleans strongman only played in 24 games his first season. Michael Jordan career vs. LeBron James career. Michael Jordan and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf recount a funny conversation when discussing his recovery from a foot injury. Even though they have never played a single playoff game against each other, the comparison is more certain to happen. Or write about sports? Hickey was coaching the Providence Steamrollers in 1947-48 when he got desperate for a spark so he activated himself. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James, the great(est) debate of our time, is finally put to rest by the Harvard and Yale debate teams. But James tops everyone in VORPand Win Shares. Considering James' elite scoring production at age 37, we examine the NBA's all-time highest scorers by age. On your television. If anyone or anything gets in the way of their success they are quick to dispose of the problem. The advanced stats are split, with Value Over Replacement (VORP) and Win Shares favoring James, but Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Plus/Minus on Jordans side of the ledger. The Lebron versus Kobe really got heated when Michael Jordan said he thinks Bryant is the better player due to his five championship, Although the stats do not lie, people still believe there is an argument to be made over who the greatest basketball player of all time is because of the number of championships won. But he did average 6.5 points in 18.1 minutes in that span of 393 games. Whenever he touched the ball, I tried to get it out of his hands, Smith said. Jordan had the drive and edge over his opponents to win games. As many haters and doubters of LeBron James have stated before, he cant win when it counts or he chokes in the Finals or he tainted his championships by forming the big 3, you have to give credit where credit is due. James has 28 career 40-point games in the playoffs and one 50-point game in the 2018 NBA Finals. He is the only player in NBA finals history to never score less than 20 points in any of his finals games. Find out more. From the day LeBron James first picked up a basketball, he wanted to be like Mike. 1 overall in 2003. Your login session has expired. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. Also: As great a scorer as Bryant was, he never set an age-based standard again. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960-61 38.4 ppg. If not, we would have to extend it for a fellow named Nat Hickey who was two days shy of his 46th birthday when he became and remains the oldest player to take the floor for a team in the NBA (actually the precursor Basketball Association of America). These two players were very similar in many ways. LeBron James and Michael Jordan both have accomplished a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James career is still going. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he helped the team make it to the playoffs. LeBron also has 28 career playoff triple-doubles, while Jordan has two. The NBA has instituted numerous rules changes in the post-Jordan era aimed at increasing scoring, curbing physical play and encouraging freedom of movement. As always, he was a physical specimen, but he was a far cry from his prime when he averaged 18.2 points and 12.9 rebounds from 1992 through 1995 for Atlanta and Miami. It would be greatly appreciated and would LOS ANGELES LeBron James passed his idol Michael Jordan on the NBAs all-time scoring list Wednesday night to move into fourth place overall. The G League Ignite guard has been toward the top of several draft boards ahead of the 2023 Draft. WebLeBron James seems to be ignoring the memo on Father Time's undefeated record. Michael Jordan has had his downfalls like losing some of the championships. The Cavs went on to have one of their worst seasons yet. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. Didnt matter much, though, given the Lakers other weapons he got his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth of the decade. If youre looking for legends, this is a tier that has them. During games he blames the referees for every game error. In the latest episode of "More Than An Athlete," LeBron James says his historic 2016 NBA Finals win made him the greatest player ever. Jordan left college after his junior year to join the NBA. WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. Go to ESPN+ and subscribe now to view full episodes. And what qualities make one player the GOAT? LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. A current star has complicated that GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation, of course. Most Valuable Player, NBA Champion, NBA All-Starthese are cover of a book of achievements earned by the most popular player in todays basketball community, Lebron James. Jordans influence was one that had never been seen before. Note: Because some players birthdays fall during the NBA season, we are going with the age XX year as determined by Basketball-Reference.com. They are the most popular players of their time, maybe the most popular in history. Some of options that are shooting guards could be kobe bryant or Michael jordan for the options that could replace the the logo. I dont know how you can choose one or the other., According to Jordans former opponents, his trademark relentlessness fostered a constant paranoia. That scoring boom has left Jordans former defenders wondering how many points he might score in todays NBA. There's a very good chance that James blows by 40,000 career points. If James missed from a particular spot early on, Christie would try to steer him back there as the game unfolded. Not only does he help the team with his scoring, but he seems to make everyone around him perform better with his playmaking ability. LeBron is the exact opposite of Kevin Durant. Per 36 minutes this season, his 15.2 scoring wasnt much off his 19.4 pro-rated rate nine years earlier. MJ is the best basketball player to ever play, I feel like MJ is the G.O.A.T. For comparisons sake, James has played 81 or more just once in his past 13 seasons (2017-18). This essay will highlight the life and career of Lebron James. The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. 9 min read. There was a battle of old warriors going on 20-plus spots down the scoring leaderboard, with Malone edging out Jordan (20.0) for the 39-year-old crown. Both of them would dunk on you. Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Through Michael Jordans athletic success on the court, he was able to make himself and his brand into a cultural icon, which had a great impact on the game of basketball, fashion, marketing, and the economy in America. This farewell cameo lasted a total of 43 minutes in April, during which the 7-footer made 5 of his 13 shots with 8 rebounds and 11 fouls. It's the never-ending debate among today's NBA fans: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. Similarly, Johnson praised Jamess key evolutions throughout his career: honing his three-point shooting, mastering his responses to various defensive schemes, and varying his teams style of play to get the most out of his teammates. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. 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