by Kyle Phillippi (@Kyle_Phillippi) & Chad Braun (@Chad_Braun)
Lebron James or Michael Jordan?
The debate favors Jordan, but after James’ first title, it’s becoming a much more interesting discussion. Obviously, Jordan’s resume is superior to Lebron’s… right now. Whenever Lebron’s career comes to a close, though, it could very well resemble MJ’s.
This led to a little debate between two writers for The Grandstand Gazette: our editor, Kyle Phillippi, and columnist Chad Braun.
Let the “Lebron or Jordan” debate ensue!
Kyle: At age 28, the man-child known as LeBron has 3 MVPs, six All-NBA first team selections, four All-NBA Defensive first team and he’s in pursuit of his second ring. And did you see his recent stretch, in which he became the first player ever to have six straight games with 30 points and to shoot 60% from the floor? Not even MJ ever did that. Right now, he’s the most dominant player to ever play in the Association. When it’s all said and done, there will be no debate that he was the best to ever do it.
Chad: Michael Jordan is known as the best player in NBA history. and for good reason too. He led the league in scoring 10 times to Lebron’s 1, his career points per game avg is 2.5 points higher than Lebron’s, Jordan did it all and at a very efficient rate. his career FG% is 49.7% which is higher than LBJ’s.
Kyle: LeBron averages an assist more and two rebounds more than Jordan did in his career. And no one has ever been as physically gifted as Lebron is, not even Jordan. At 28, Jordan had one ring as well. Before James turns 29, he may have two. Lebron’s career is still being written, and he’s playing the best basketball of his career right now. There will be many more records shattered by him in the coming years and when he hangs it up, his stat line will be eerily similar, if not better, than Jordan.
Chad: Jordan is a born leader, he has been known to play in games where he was far from 100%. Lebron is known to leave games with a cramp in crunch time. Jordan has 5 MVPs to Lebron’s 3, he was also Finals MVP six times en route to six NBA rings. The clutch factor also plays a role, as some of Jordan’s most iconic moments are game-winners in the biggest of games. James is not much of a closer and does not have many game-winners in huge situations, in fact he tends to defer the last shot to someone else. Lebron has a long way to go before being considered in the same class as Jordan.
Kyle: While I certainly agree with your last statement about being in the same class, I do think that when it’s said and done, Lebron’s career will resemble Jordan’s. He’s on a dynamic team who will compete at a high level for the next few years, and if James takes his talent elsewhere after Miami, he will make the decision because you know every team will put forth an offer. We will be seeing a lot of Lebron in the finals from now until his final shot. Also, Lebron is becoming a more more efficient shooter while being a tremendous team player and you can bet he’ll continue that role for the rest of his career. We may not even have seen the best of Lebron yet.
Chad: Lebron is a freakish athlete, but at the end of the day, in today’s society wins are all that ultimately matters. If you dont win, then you can’t be considered in the highest class. Jordan is a proven winner and Lebron has yet to prove that he can win on a consistent basis in big games. If Lebron can’t get a few more rings, then he has no shot of being in Jordan’s class. Society will see him as a good athlete that shrunk when the lights got bright whereas Jordan is seen as the man who played his best when the lights were brightest.
You’ll never get it. “Five is better than one”. Six is better than one. Six is better than 5. Call me when someone gets to 6, otherwise stfu
Sorry but anyone who watched Jordan, I am a Pistons fan, knows there is no competition. Jordan not only played to win but he also made those around him better whether it was in his first three championships by riding other team members or the more supportive Jordan in the last three championships. Michael would never conceive of having the best players of his day on the same team. Jordan understood the need for role players. Unfortunately John Thompson found this out in his fated Olympic run.
Please don’t ever try to compare anyone to Michael Jordan! That mold was used once and then discarded! Lebron is not even close and will never be!
Neither,
Chamberlain blows them all out of the water. Not sure when the world is actually going to look at the facts. This is actually no debate. The NBA loves to toute Jordan, and then Kobe and now Lebron because its good for merchandising. Its hard to make alot of money on a guy who played on bad teams and who’s best game (actually most of his best games) was unfillmed.
Does Bill Russell not enter this discussion? 11 Rings!
Jordan all the way, not even a competition!
Lebron is a looser. Guy is so full of himself its not even funny. He hasn’t down anything and thinks he’s the greatest.
He’s whiny too http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/lebron-james-whines-about-missing-super-bowl/
I’m not much of a basketball fan. When Michael Jordan’s Bulls played in the playoffs I watched. You could tell he was something special, I mean beyond the hype. Watched Lebron play once in a playoff game, during his Cleveland stint. Dribble the ball, go to the top of the arc, wait for an opening in the lane, sprint to the rim, and dunk. Repeat as needed. Seems like the Bulls were always taken to 7 games in the playoffs, Michael wouldn’t be so good one game, not be very good part of the next, and then something, I don’t know what, would come over him. He’d get a look in his eye, and then it’d be over. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, you could do to stop him during those moments, and some really good players did try to stop him. I’m not sure that the same thing can be said for Lebron James. I hope so, for basketball’s sake, but it’s not entirely certain that the Heat can hold on to the championship this year. I think you can get into Lebron’s head in a way you just couldn’t with Jordan, but that’s pure speculation on my part.
Jordan ! without question!
I think the debate should be LeBron James vs. Scottie Pippen. They were mentally and physically a better match to compare … but MJ? forget about it!
Where’s
Bill Russell????
I love the last line.. “Jordan is seen as the man who played his best when the lights were brightest” and that sums it up for me.. The point of the clutch player. Jordan did that. He was the starter and finisher and that’s what leaders do. Jordan would law down the law in the 1st quarter. Then the rest of the team took lead from him. By time their was 3min left in the game (speacially a close game) defense didn’t know what to do.. they had suspension it would be Jordan. But who could stop him?? And when you have a defense trying to stop 1 person. The greatest player ever knew he had you ..So, with 1 more pass to an excellent supporting cast. Game Over! And that is the key, something Lebron doesn’t really have. Now. Give Lebron a supporting cast like Jordan had for titles 3 & 4.. and Lebron can start making closer tracks to Jordans legacy. But, until then it’s just a dream. Jordan the greatest NBA player still to 2013
A tough debate for sure. Lebron is the man right now but only longevity, consistently playing at this high level, and the hardware to go with the stats will get him mentioned in the same sentence as MJ. So many things made MJ the best…just the overall evolution of his game and how he was the best regardless of the stage of his career (not including the pre-Wizards). In his high flying days he dominated the perimeter and in his post up stage he was as good as or better than Hakeem, Ewing, or Robinson in the post. His jumper became automatic if he was just slightly open and almost as deadly if he was tightly covered or fading away. He added the three point range and he was money in the clutch when everybody knew he was getting the ball and taking the last shot Don’t forget all of the pre-championship years that he basically played one on five and still averaged over 37 and 35 per game in his best scoring seasons while guarding the other teams best perimeter player. Lebron, Kobe, McGrady, and every other “next MJ” has benefited from watching and imitating MJ’s game while MJ’s game was unlike anybody before him (save Dr. J or David Thompson to much lesser degrees). Lebron is a combo of Magic and MJ and he does deserve to be mentioned in the same “as great as” sentence with Magic and MJ but never the best or better than either of them. Finally, if the ticky tack fouls and flagrant crap that is called today was called back when MJ played, MJ would’ve averaged 40-45 per game. I’d pay money to see of Lebron and MJ play 1-on-1 best of series.
In 2020: 1. Michael
1A: Lebron
2. Magic
3. Russell
4. Bird
5. Duncan
6. Ray Felton (lol jk)
Seven is better than six. Obviously that means Robert Horry is better than Jordan. No?
Now you see the stupidity of basing GOAT solely on rings….