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. Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. Watching LeBron play, you see his pass-first mentality at work. LeBron has only three championship rings but has been to the Finals eight times. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. The 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. Over James first five seasons in the league, he averaged 27.3 points on 46.7% shooting (32.4% on threes) while putting up 21.1 shots nightly. Williams: LeBron's willingness to speak out makes him the GOAT. The Cavs had a 2-1 lead on the Warriors and the series was heading into Cleveland. Their names are all over the NBA record books in just about every category. As you can see on the list below, James playing at or near his current level should have a solid shot at the setting age 38 and age 39 marks held respectively by Abdul-Jabbar (23.4) and Malone (20.6). The only time Michael and LeBron did it the same was when they had lanes to the basket, Johnson said with a laugh. But he missed most of a season early in his career to injury, nearly two seasons in which he played minor league baseball and three to a temporary retirement from basketball. Full name: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. (That's a term of endearment.). This tells us that Jordan played better, when the stage was the biggest. Do legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have a stronger case than Michael Jordan? The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. It was all identical but not the same(P//5). The only question now is, Who is the best basketball player?, 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. Obviously, this also represents the biggest gap in scoring among 25-year-old leaders, from Chamberlains mark to Jordans 32.5 in 1988-89. Didnt matter much, though, given the Lakers other weapons he got his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth of the decade. In LeBrons first game, they threw the ball to him in the post, Christie said. (6:40). In the playoffs, he set the still-standing Finals record of 61 points in Game 5 against Boston. Source: Getty Images. If youre looking for a more legitimate, i.e., complete season, that would go to Dallas Luka Doncic, snagging the highest scoring average for a teenager at 21.1 while playing 72 games in 2018-19. 23 years ago today, KOBE BRYANT vs MICHAEL JORDAN at the 1998 #NBAAllStar Game! The underappreciated forward ranks 23rd in career points, ahead of West, Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird and, well, all but 22 guys. There's a very good chance that James blows by 40,000 career points. LeBron James passes Michael Jordan in career field goals James now trails Wilt (12,681) for No. 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. I wouldnt change LeBrons approach at all.. WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN 34.4: 73.5: 7.5: 7.3: 0.8: 1.5: 1.8: 3.5: 27.2: Recent Games. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. Jamess all-around playmaking polish led Christie to throw out prepared scouting reports, focusing instead on keeping a running checklist of Jamess shots. Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. LeBron also has 28 career playoff triple-doubles, while Jordan has two. Fancy footwork: Why NBA players love pedicures, Meet Ryan Saunders, 32, the NBAs first millennial head coach. Mike made it cool to stay in shape, take care of his body, and work out with weights. For his efforts there, Jordan received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. If the more dominate player already isnt clear, its Michael, Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? WebPlayer Comparison: LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. On March 28th, 2003 the ultimate rivalry took place between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Maybe it's a matter of taste. 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. Numerous endorsements, an acting career, and widespread humanitarianism are only a few of the features that comprise the man we know as Lebron James. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Jordan. 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. One person who isn't changing his mind anytime soon is First Take's Stephen A. Smith. This year he may see his first ring. Stay up to date on the race for Kia NBA MVP with a look at the latest performances from the top candidates. When it came to reliability at the line, Jordan (83.5 percent) clearly outpaced James (73.7 percent). When Lebron James went to Miami it is was incredible, when Michael Jordan was on the Bulls they were unstoppable, there always been a comparison between the two. Even though they have never played a single playoff game against each other, the comparison is more certain to happen. Remember when LeBron scored 25 straight points? Cassell asked, referring to a 2007 playoff game between Jamess Cavaliers and the Pistons. LeBron is just the opposite and I say, bravo. Your default site has been set for 7 days, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: The key stats you need to know in the GOAT debate, The Sporting News' Bill Benderhas a helpful guide. LeBron is probably going to pass Kareem and we dont even think of him as a scorer, said Sacramento Kings color commentator Doug Christie, who defended James during his 2003 pro debut. Jordan had the drive and edge over his opponents to win games. LeBron James could not score in the 4th quarter and when the Cavs needed a spark. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. James and his closest friends idolized Michael Jordan while they grew up together in Akron, Ohio. 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 Six championships. Michael and Kobe were going head to head for the last time. While Lebron plays the Small forward position, but he can play either five position on the court because of his height and weight coming in at 68 250 pounds. Most of the players who criticize LeBron for passing instead of shooting, especially when its time to take the last shot, are speaking from their own abilities, not his. 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). Bill Russel, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Julius Dr. From there, James would have to play several more seasons to score the more than 3,000 points it would take to get within striking distance of Malone and Abdul-Jabbar. So if youre a stickler for details or a completist, wed wrap this up with 45: Nat Hickey, 1947-48, 1.0 ppg. There were the Jordan Rules, but theres no LeBron Rules because you cant be that physical anymore, said Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell, a strong-minded point guard who won two titles with the Houston Rockets during a playing career that spanned from 1993 to 2008. We were trying to kill Michael Jordan and he would just get up and make his free throws.. 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. 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. This still doesn't change the fact that Michael Jordan and LeBron James won 2 Olympic gold medals. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. In the comments section. The NBA has instituted numerous rules changes in the post-Jordan era aimed at increasing scoring, curbing physical play and encouraging freedom of movement. 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. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. 32. Who is the real GOAT? Guys were smoking cigarettes at halftime in his early days.. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. These debates rage on endlessly in every corner of NBA fandom, and our experts have done their best to answer them, ranking the greatest players in the league's 74-year history. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season stats Provided by Sporting News Jordan is superior in the scoring department, but James grabs rebounds Click on the red text to pre-fill the form with various values, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 4:56AM. The Cavs went on to have one of their worst seasons yet. At age 37, LeBron has scored 25 points in 10 consecutive games. Michael Jordan says he takes the comparison between him and LeBron James with a grain of salt because they played in different eras. LeBron was leading the Cavs in his 2003-2010 season, but never got them a championship, LeBron was very close though. Even after Michael Jordan left his team they were still successful, as for LeBron leaving Cleveland well things were not looking good for the Cavs. Pretty much. Has not lost in his era. 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. Bowen recalled how Jordan would bend into a Crouching Tiger stance as defenders approached, preparing to burst into a move or shot. There is also the fact that the NBA is different now compared to the NBA that Jordan played in. They think they are the best there is and ever will be, and they certainly do not let anyone tell them differently. This all of course culminated in a GOAT debate. 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