LeBron is the exact opposite of Kevin Durant. M.J. In addition to his more imposing physique, James has surpassed Jordan in other ways. At age 37, LeBron has scored 25 points in 10 consecutive games. [Jordan] is somebody I looked up to and always believed was the greatest. If the more dominate player already isnt clear, its Michael, Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? Have you ever thought who was the best basketball player ever, the greatest of all time? Michael Jordan may have retired, but he still a 5 time MVP trophy winner, he also been in 6 championship games. 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. Id let LeBron take it out of bounds and bring it up, Davis quipped. He played both ends at the highest level, Christie said. Im a playmaker.. Makes it hard to guard someone that big and athletic, while on the other hand Kobe scores so smoothly off the pull up of post up game and so more, Lebron James won 2 rings for winning the championship. Its been historical. Sorting only sorts the values in the table shown. He and the Lakers lost in the Finals to New York, but West did win his only scoring title, with 35 games of 30 points or more and 13 more of at least 40. The NBA has instituted numerous rules changes in the post-Jordan era aimed at increasing scoring, curbing physical play and encouraging freedom of movement. Michael and Kobe were going head to head for the last time. Jordan won six NBA championships compared to Kobes five and Jordan was the finals MVP five times while Kobe was once (Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan Comparison). Kobe had forty-two points in the first half; moreover, wanted to put on a show that night and did not hesitate to do so. In response to Jordan and James, frustrated opposing coaches resorted to unconventional tactics. However, LeBron James is still averaging around three times more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did in his 20th and final season. James has not yet claimed a steals title. Full name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. LeBron James will always be looked at as one of the greatest team players in the history of the NBA. Jordans influence was one that had never been seen before. He Who is the real GOAT? But what do LeBron's and MJ's overall Finals track records really tell us about the choice between them as the greatest of all time? While Jordans brain zoomed in to calculate the precise moment and method to beat his defenders, Jamess zooms out to survey for weaknesses that someone on his team maybe him, maybe not could exploit. LeBron James just passed Michael Jordan on the NBAs career scoring list despite LeBron considering himself more playmaker than scorer. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. LeBron James passes Michael Jordan in career field goals James now trails Wilt (12,681) for No. LeBron does not have the dominance of Michael Jordan. With these and plenty other factors taken into consideration, LeBron James is the better overall player. One of a kind. James has 28 career 40-point games in the playoffs and one 50-point game in the 2018 NBA Finals. Im thinking, What the hell? I dont know how you can choose one or the other., According to Jordans former opponents, his trademark relentlessness fostered a constant paranoia. Father Time starts winking at the best of them. The first time Durant averaged 30 points or more in a season was in 2009-10 in his age-21 season. Even though Lebron and Jordan are compared a lot, many people still think Jordan would beat LeBron head to, They are both the heart of their teams and they are the ones their teams build around bringing players in that will help them and the team win. 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. WebThe 7-foot-1 Hall of Fame center destroyed rims, glass backboards and entire baskets on multiple occasions throughout his career.Michael Jordan is already eternalized in silhouette. That included 30.0 ppg in seven summer contests in the Orlando bubble in the virus lockdown season. The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. After NBA legend Isiah Thomas says he'd take LeBron James over Michael Jordan, the SportsNation crew weighs in on the classic debate. Also read: LeBron James will be GOAT over Michael Jordan once he gets NBA's scoring record, says Chandler Parsons, Be the first one to comment on this story. Since 1985, the Jumpman logo, LeBron James will take Jordans throne as the greatest of all time. Jordan had the drive and edge over his opponents to win games. 3, chasing Kareem at the top LeBron James and champion Lakers join NBA TV after Game 6 win Some might say it is Michael Jordan, but currently some people might argue it is actually Lebron James, who is the greatest player of all time. The two are very arrogant and think very highly of themselves. LeBron vs. Jordan. Nothing stood in his way once he had gotten to the. So, who would you pick? 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. This is the big one regardless of age, the season after which if Chamberlain had been hitting free agency the Philadelphia Warriors owner would have skipped contract formalities and simply called him partner. How would you pay someone today who averaged 50 points, almost 26 rebounds and 48.5 minutes? That edges out Carmelo Anthonys 21.0 and LeBrons 20.9, both in their 2003-04 rookie seasons. MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game 7 to win those series. But he did average 6.5 points in 18.1 minutes in that span of 393 games. Jordans success in the finals and post-season was an amazing feat thatll probably never come close to being accomplished ever again (Zachmo Marsupalami.). LeBron did win two Finals with the Miami Heat and one with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, but he has not been able to deliver in his other Finals appearances. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. If he got a half-step of separation, he could slice into the paint for acrobatic layups. The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. Rule changes have led to a different game, three-pointers, two-pointers and free throws. free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. Or should that be LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Learn more and register. One reason is because of Jordans NBA finals stats. LeBron James is currently the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history, 19 points ahead of Michael Jordan, who holds the No. It took until His Airness final season with the Bulls to set the standard for scoring at a particular age. James did it last season and again this season. In the fall of 1997, Michael Jordan and the Bulls began their quest to win a sixth NBA title in eight years. Simmons purpose is to show the effects of being driven by competition and how that has brought James into the discussion for the greatest basketball player of all time. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. When it came to reliability at the line, Jordan (83.5 percent) clearly outpaced James (73.7 percent). Two months out from his 38th birthday, 19 days since setting the NBA's all-time scoring record and a week from a record-tying 19th All-Star appearance, LeBron James is still giving Father Time a game for the ages. 1, but plenty of other performers are staying in the mix as the Kia MVP discussion nears the finish line. Jordan didnt bother to bait anyone. They have both made the most impact for their respective teams, they have also made rookie of the year their first years. However, Jordan has been much more loved by the fans than LeBron. Michael Jordan is a superior player to kareem because of his success on and off the court. In the comments section. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Previously, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA. They are the biggest inspiration to young ballers around the world. Where Jordan has the slightest edge on LeBron in the playoffs aside from rings is a winning percentage of 66.5% with a record of 119-60. Daring James to shoot proved effective for stretches because it caused James to overthink. Ive failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed (MJ). NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. Rockets: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Nets vs. Knicks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, 76ers vs. Heat: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Cavaliers vs. Celtics: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Bulls vs. Pistons: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Nikola Jokic remains at No. Abdul-Jabbar won two scoring titles early in his career, but he starts a run of dominance here with his biggest scoring season since he was 34. Considering James' elite scoring production at age 37, we examine the NBA's all-time highest scorers by age. Davis agreed, too, with a twist that neatly summarized these two greats differing approaches at this historic crossing. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. This age difference could give James more time to catch up to his record. One endless debate. The 13-time All-Star, who was dealt to Phoenix on Feb. 9, has not played in a game since Jan. 8 when he was with the Nets. This isnt exactly breaking news, either. As stated by ESPN.com (2016) Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the reigning two-time MVP and a reigning NBA champion, but he has no interest in whether he or Cleveland's LeBron James is considered the "face of the NBA, Curry says. Popular writer and sports columnist, Bill Simmons, in his article, LeBron is Still Painting his Masterpiece, describes the current state of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and compares the careers of two of the greatest players in the leagues history: Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Barry averaged 30.6 in 1974-75 and led an ensemble Golden State team to the NBA championship, but finished a dubious fourth in MVP voting behind Bob McAdoo, Dave Cowens and Elvin Hayes back when players voted for the award. Compare player statistics for: So theoretically. Not only does he need improvement his team needs it to. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. pointers and free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. The way Michael scored the basketball wasnt always good for his team. They are quick to show people that they are the best on the court. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). He wasnt able to singlehandedly drag the Los Angeles Lakers into the postseason. Hed read newspapers on road trips looking for something to fuel his fire. 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. 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. 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