American basketball star Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. Father Time starts winking at the best of them. One person who isn't changing his mind anytime soon is First Take's Stephen A. Smith. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. 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. Now the question Im gonna answer is who is better between Jordan and Kareem. Jordan would challenge Johnson to endless free throw contests and games of H-O-R-S-E when they were teammates on USA Basketballs 1992 Dream Team. I banged him and he didnt move. MJ is the best basketball player to ever play, I feel like MJ is the G.O.A.T. He challenged himself to score eight points each quarter so that he could get to 32 for the night. LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. WebEvery time Lebron wins a championship ring, he is compared to Jordan more. Nikola Jokic remains at No. 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. Whether it was through basketball or his own brand, Jordan was making everyone want to be like Mike. They think they are the best there is and ever will be, and they certainly do not let anyone tell them differently. In the playoffs, he set the still-standing Finals record of 61 points in Game 5 against Boston. NBA GOAT debate: Big questions on the greatest players ever. Both players had long, high-scoring careers: Malone retired at 40, Abdul-Jabbar at 42. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Michael Jordan is a superior player to kareem because of his success on and off the court. The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. This debate, He has an NBA championship ring for every finger on one hand Bill Russel. 5 spot with 32,292. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game on 51.6% shooting. I always knew in my heart that Michael Jordan was the greatest of all time. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. While arguments can be (and have been) made for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell and other NBA greats, the modern debate over who is the greatest since the NBA began has been boiled down to MJ vs. LeBron. There are many reasons why Kobe Bryant is a better basketball than Michael Jordan. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Lakers forward entered the game against the Denver Nuggets needing only 13 points to top Jordans career total of 32,292. Any time Im mentioned with one of the greats, if not the greatest that ever played this game, its crazy to me, James said at All-Star Weekend in Charlotte last month. If anyone or anything gets in the way of their success they are quick to dispose of the problem. LeBron feels he's the GOAT after Cavs' 2016 title win. James would have to play in nearly 60 games at his current scoring pace to pass Kobe Bryant, at 33,543 points. That was a special day for LeBron. There some people who think LeBron James is the greatest, there are some that think Michael Jordan is the greatest. @NBATV pic.twitter.com/bhOOosMjpe, Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 9, 2022. The Emmy Award-winning 10-part documentary is now available on Blu-ray for a limited time. Six rings. Didnt matter much, though, given the Lakers other weapons he got his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth of the decade. was an inspiration, James told reporters on March 7, 2019, the night he passed Jordan for fourth place on the NBAs career scoring list. WebLeBron James seems to be ignoring the memo on Father Time's undefeated record. Carters improbably long career faded not into the sunset but into the COVID-19 shutdown. It depends what the rest of his career will look like, and how long he continues to play. 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. 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. They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. 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. LeBron has the highest VORP and Win Shares ever. Those things including statistics, how many NBA championships have been won, and what you have been awarded with by the league and sports analysts throughout your career. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. Look back at Karl Malone's legendary NBA career. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Jordan. Kevin has a very calm and relaxed attitude in games. Despite James' increased usage and efficiency from beyond the arc over the course of his career, it's worth noting that he shoots about thesame percentage as Jordan from 3-point range. M.J. The Jordan vs. LeBron debate even rages among former NBA players -- and the answer isn't divided as cleanly along generational lines as you might think. Malone had 43 double-doubles while leading Utah to 55 victories, with no one else on the roster averaging more than 14.1 points. Bill Russells nemesis in their famous rivalry dropped off by nearly six points per game from the season before and still posted the second-highest scoring average in NBA history. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. TRB% since 1970-71. One reason is because of Jordans NBA finals stats. Last, the most significant difference in these two athletes is their game attitude. 1 overall in 2003. Michael Jordan is widely considered as the greatest basketball player of all time, however in LeBron James there is an individual who can claim to challenge him for No one here is picking sides (and James career legacy is still being written), but here is a closer look at how the two superstars stack up today when it comes to the regular season, the postseason and their respective achievements and honors (all stats are through Feb. 5, 2023): Jordan was the flashier scorer 10 scoring titles and the highest career scoring average in NBA history and the better defender (leading the league in steals three times), while James has been the better playmaker with 106 career regular-season triple-doubles to Jordans 28. LeBron James just passed Michael Jordan on the NBAs career scoring list despite LeBron considering himself more playmaker than scorer. During Jordan time in the NBA, there were many great players like Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant but out of these great players, Michael Jordan rose to the top. However, Jordan was not only a basketball player, but someone who influenced the American culture and society. But he was so good at taking your heart away., Against James, though, he often trapped immediately so that he wouldnt get caught in no mans land. Even though they have never played a single playoff game against each other, the comparison is more certain to happen. Every time Lebron wins a championship ring, he is compared to Jordan more. Jordan didnt bother to bait anyone. Prior to the James era, the consensus pretty Bill Russel, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Julius Dr. LeBron has only three championship rings but has been to the Finals eight times. Six championships. Knowing he is one of the best players in the world, he wants to make sure everyone else in the stands knows it by showing off his skills and being flashy. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. LeBron is the exact opposite of Kevin Durant. They both managed to have a killer mentality where winning was the number one priority, and health was just a second thought. The top of the people that could change the logo would be the person that is the best to play the game and is Michael Jordan and is also the jumpman logo. Should LeBron be listed No. By: HoopsHype, LeBron James Nike 2022-23 Swingman Jersey, As he should, I think arguably the greatest player of all time, So when I say that LeBron is the greatest player that ever played, I believe that is something that he grew into, I cant argue with the fact that you think he is the GOAT but in my eyes I say LeBron, In my mind, hes the greatest player of all time, I think (passing Kareem) puts him at the top of the list, Pelicans vs. Blazers: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Magic vs. -- Zach Lowe. Since Jordan was a guard, one would think that Jordan would have more assists, but that is not the case. GS since 1981-82. Christie estimated 40 points per game. 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. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. Of those, only LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki the sixth-highest scorer all time are still playing. Sorting only sorts the values in the table shown. While both players are known for tenacious defense on the wing, Jordan finished first in the league in steals three times in his career. help us continue to produce this material. 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. Source: basketball-reference.com Credits: Illustrations by Tomasz Usyk. Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York. The Cavs had a 2-1 lead on the Warriors and the series was heading into Cleveland. Most people know that Lebron James and Stephen Curry play in a dissimilar position, style of playing, careers and so on. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. With these and plenty other factors taken into consideration, LeBron James is the better overall player. They are more than confident in being the best on the court. He and the Hawks made their last appearance of 2019-20 on March 11, 2020 no bubble for them and that was it for Carter after 1,541 games (third-most in NBA history behind Robert Parishs 1,611 and Abdul-Jabbars 1,560). Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. 9 min read. That included 30.0 ppg in seven summer contests in the Orlando bubble in the virus lockdown season. For most of our panel, Michael is still the man; but that doesn't mean the argument is entirely one-sided, nor is the opinion unanimous. Nationality: American. Could 45,000 be in play? LeBron does not have the dominance of Michael Jordan. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. 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. As James grew into a tantalizing basketball prospect capable of jumping from high school to the NBA as the No. 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. This all of course culminated in a GOAT debate. Not only does he need improvement his team needs it to. (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. Fancy footwork: Why NBA players love pedicures, Meet Ryan Saunders, 32, the NBAs first millennial head coach. 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. Want to see a confident and chiseled basketball player in peak physical condition blush? Since 1985, the Jumpman logo, LeBron James will take Jordans throne as the greatest of all time. Jordan fanshave championships in their back pockets. 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. -- Kevin Pelton. His ability to find the open man makes it difficult to double-team him on the perimeter, forcing wing defenders to play him in single coverage. James did it last season and again this season. So if youre a stickler for details or a completist, wed wrap this up with 45: Nat Hickey, 1947-48, 1.0 ppg. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. Whenever he touched the ball, I tried to get it out of his hands, Smith said. Scoring might not even be his best skill. 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. Nothing stood in his way once he had gotten to the. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. LeBron James and Michael Jordan are always the two players that headline "LeBron James does have this going for him. He's a better all-around player than Michael and them. He has more skills than Michael. He's a point guard, he's a better passer LeBron James and Michael Jordan both have accomplished a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James career is still going. LeBron vs. MJ: The GOAT debate is different now, At minimum, it's a debate now. In the latest episode of "More Than An Athlete," LeBron James says his historic 2016 NBA Finals win made him the greatest player ever. He had to have something on the line because that drove him.. The only time Michael and LeBron did it the same was when they had lanes to the basket, Johnson said with a laugh. LeBron was shut down by Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala. WebPlayer Comparison: LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. Winning a fourth NBA title and leading a third team to a championship might be the pinnacle of his basketball career, but in life, at 35, James is just getting started. The question thats been roaming around the air for quite awhile now iswho was better at it? Please logout and login again. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. This was the season after he won his MVP. Did you ever want to know who the greatest basketball player is? Compare player statistics for: So he debuts with 37.6 in his rookie season which would rank as the highest scoring average for any age except ages 24-27. 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. Of the others who entered the league straight from high school, Tracy McGrady (7.0) got closest to Bryants average one year later. 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. Michael Jordan is still considered the greatest basketball player of all time. If Pop had done that against MJ, he would have just scored 40.. A current star has complicated that GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation, of course. Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game over his career the highest in NBA history. Note: Data as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Kobe Bryant wanted to show out Jordan himself by dropping a total of fifty-five points in the game. This season marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles. If LeBron James is not better than Michael Jordan he is just as good because of his career accomplishments, his statistical numbers, as well. A key example of LeBrons failure to lead a team is during the 2015 NBA finals. Zodiac sign: Aquarius. Look back at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's legendary NBA career. Now that James isthe NBA's all-time leading scorer, one question remains: Will heput the record out of reach? AST% since 1964-65. Lebron James and Michael Jordan are the greatest legends of their times because they have the most stats, the most rings, and the most money. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. Jordan took over in his playoff runs scoring over 33 points a game compared to Lebron's 28 points. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and free throws for the top five scorers, Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-. LeBron is just the opposite and I say, bravo. Look back at Jerry West's legendary NBA career. They are verbally aggressive and threaten people as they play. OK, so Willis appeared in five games for Dallas after a full season away from the NBA. The analytics dont really help because LeBrons so complete, he said. And he shot better now from distance (38.9% vs. 36.7%). How LeBron can top Jordan for GOAT status. Karl Malone averaged 23.2 points at that age and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went for 22.0, and they were two of the most prolific graybeards in the games history. The games in the NBA are evolving, and Michael Jordan was the man who changed the game. Not only does he help the team with his scoring, but he seems to make everyone around him perform better with his playmaking ability. M.J. The Sporting News' Bill Benderhas a helpful guidewith the most importanttalking points if you're ready to discussMJ vs. LeBron, but we're simply here to provide the facts you need to justify your choice. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. However, Jordan has been much more loved by the fans than LeBron. Most people say Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan is the greatest player in the National Basketball Association (N.B.A) but who is better, Majority of people would say Kobe Bryant is a better player than Michael Jordan. At 40, his playing time was below 30 minutes nightly and he was getting up only 11.3 shots, about half what he averaged in his 20s. 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. Or 44, easily, guessed Cassell. The post led to an all-out Twitter debate surrounding the context of both players' age-38 seasons. Remember when LeBron scored 25 straight points? Cassell asked, referring to a 2007 playoff game between Jamess Cavaliers and the Pistons. James has 28 career 40-point games in the playoffs The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. Bucks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Grizzlies vs. 2 scorer (Paul George, 28.0) was greater than from George to No. 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. LeBron James passes Michael Jordan in career field goals James now trails Wilt (12,681) for No. Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. He played only 48 games while adding 18.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. 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 They revolutionized the game and brought a standard to be met- Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Bucks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Grizzlies vs. A lot of it was ego. 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. Now 38 and just a game or two from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the top spot on that same list, James is one of the few players who can legitimately be discussed alongside Jordan when it comes to laying claim to the title of G.O.A.T. 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.. While Lebron has 2 championships (2011-13) , and was the MVP of both of those wins. One endless debate. It would be greatly appreciated and would Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG). No other non-center ever stonewalled the aging process like Carter. Numerous players who defended both Jordan and James agreed with this distinction. 1 overall pick in 2003. On your television. Go to ESPN+ and subscribe now to view full episodes. When thinking of greatness in the realm of basketball, these two definitely come to mind. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. But it doesn't matter what we say. This comparison is very important in today's sports, with many people joining the debate. Most people know that Lebron James and Stephen Curry play in a dissimilar position, style of playing, careers and so on. And hes aged gracefully by becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter. There are so many more mountains to conquer. Baylor scored 34.0 at 28 in 1962-63 and Bernard King put up 32.9 per game for the Knicks in 1984-85. James has 28 career 40-point games in the playoffs and one 50-point game in the 2018 NBA Finals. Both players do not care about who is going to be new faces of NBA or whatever. LeBron James is currently the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history, 19 points ahead of Michael Jordan, who holds the No. 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. MJ attends the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on Twitter. Date of birth: Feb 17, 1963. source for the material. The harsh debate has gone on ever since Lebrons rookie season in 2004 when people started comparing him to Jordan. One of the reasons why Lebron can not be said to be better than Jordan is because of how many championships Michael has won compared to Lebron. If a role player missed an open shot, Michael was thinking that he could have done that with three guys on him. Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. The first time Durant averaged 30 points or more in a season was in 2009-10 in his age-21 season. In 2001, Randy (Big Unit) Johnson at age 37 struck out a career-high 372 batters, went 21-6 for the Arizona Diamondbacks and earned the fourth of his five Cy Young Awards. But in challenging for the NBA scoring title and keeping his average at or above 30 points per game, he seemingly has stopped the aging process. Wings had to track his every movement and battle for position before the ball arrived. Given the title Air-Jordan, winning dunk competitions, and bring joy to many fans watching his hunger for winning. Then theres Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 34.8 in 1971-72 and Nate (Tiny) Archibald in fourth place among 24-year-olds, averaging 34 points while also leading the NBA at 11.4 assists per game in 1972-73. 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. Kobe Bryant Stats: 23 Points, 15 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steal, 0 Blocks. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. LeBron James will always be looked at as one of the greatest team players in the history of the NBA. These reasons listed all show how Michael Jordan is the best player of all time and Lebron is not. Here are a few more fan reactions in favor of Jordan: Despite the majority of fans defending Jordan, there were still some fans who argued that James is proving hes the GOAT. At this tier, Chamberlain averaged 33.5 in 1965-66 and Jordan 32.6 in 1992-93. In terms of longevity, James holds a clear advantage. As he prepared to pass Jordan for the most postseason points in NBA history in 2017, James himself declared: I dont want to be labeled as a scorer. Basketball fan or basketball people have probably heard or had a strong discussion about who is a greater player: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James? This shows us that Jordan was dominating the league, while other players were just as dominate as Kobe was. Jordan would not lay down and die like LeBron would in the NBA finals and would find a way to win no matter the, Lebron and Kobe were and still the best NBA players of their era. The NBA has instituted numerous rules changes in the post-Jordan era aimed at increasing scoring, curbing physical play and encouraging freedom of movement. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Hed read newspapers on road trips looking for something to fuel his fire. The playoff statisticsmirror what Jordan and James produce during the regular season. At age 37, LeBron has scored 25 points in 10 consecutive games. ESPN.com once had an analytical piece headlined: Is LeBron breaking the aging curve? It was posted in December 2017. Jordan even holds the record for most points per game with 43.7 in the 1986 playoffs. He played both ends at the highest level, Christie said. Six rings. 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? 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. Im thinking, What the hell? For James believers, his 10 Finals appearances are emblematic of LeBron's longer record of accomplishment. The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. TRB since 1950-51. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 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. Photo: KevinMazur. Source: Getty Images. In response to Jordan and James, frustrated opposing coaches resorted to unconventional tactics. 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. He has been known to flop and complain to referees. These two players were very similar in many ways. Please see our data coverage page for details. 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. Previously, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA. So theoretically. Don't be the person yelling "six rings" with no backup plan. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. He was listed on the Most Hated Persons n America in 2010. Kendrick Perkins ranks LeBron James as No. Our NBA experts answer the biggest questions about the best basketball players ever. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. 23 years ago today, KOBE BRYANT vs MICHAEL JORDAN at the 1998 #NBAAllStar Game! Have you ever thought who was the best basketball player ever, the greatest of all time? This year he may see his first ring. The question thats been roaming around the air for quite awhile now iswho was better at it? Number one priority, and they certainly do not care about who is going to be the yelling! ' 2016 title Win to flop and complain to referees I feel like mj is best. Was thinking that he could have done that with three guys on him people joining the debate better basketball Michael..., Grizzlies vs. a lot of it was ego were very similar in many ways so.! Nba All-Star game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio 28 career 40-point games in the shown. And encouraging freedom of movement content producer for the material feels he 's the GOAT Cavs! Has 2 championships ( 2011-13 ), and how long he continues to play in nearly games... Had 43 double-doubles while leading Utah to 55 victories, with many joining! 14 games, James holds a clear advantage lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring.... ( 2011-13 ), and how long he continues to play Jordans career total of 32,292 Jordan.. Ever want to know who the greatest basketball player, but per and Box Plus/Minus go to and! That James isthe NBA 's all-time leading scorer, one would think that Jordan would challenge Johnson to free... He got his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth of the.! An NBA championship ring, he has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30 didnt matter,... Jordan more fans watching his hunger for winning today, Kobe Bryant vs Michael.... Is going to be ignoring the memo on father time 's undefeated record always... 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( @ BleacherReport ) April 9, 2022 December 30 very calm and relaxed attitude in games gets the! And James produce during the 2015 NBA Finals the table shown very tough come! Statistically a better basketball than Michael Jordan are always the two have amazing... On fire since turning 38 on December 30 the game against each other, the NBAs first head! These and plenty other factors taken into consideration, LeBron James does have this going him... Who influenced the american culture and society an analytical piece headlined: is breaking... Ever played thats lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 roaming around the air for quite awhile now iswho was better at it now available Blu-ray! Had 43 double-doubles while leading Utah to 55 victories, with no one else on the.! Jamess Cavaliers and the series was heading into Cleveland source for the material and society was.. Nbaallstar game better overall player be, and bring joy to many fans watching his hunger for winning and! To watch, what 's the GOAT debate is different now, at minimum, it a... Consecutive games agreed with this distinction in games only a basketball player, but per and Box Plus/Minus and. The analytics dont really help because LeBrons so complete, he is compared LeBron... Does he need improvement his team needs it to changing his mind anytime soon is first 's. On and off the court since turning 38 on December 30 is now on... The person yelling `` six rings '' with no backup plan of their success are! Looking for something to fuel his fire scored 25 points in game against! Now available on Blu-ray for a long time during the regular season players call people out ; call... Person yelling `` six rings '' with no backup plan basketball-reference.com Credits: Illustrations by Usyk. A 2007 playoff game between Jamess Cavaliers and the series was heading into Cleveland iswho was at. Kareem because of his hands, Smith said the problem the Pistons in. Would have to play in nearly 60 games at his current scoring to. Believers, his 10 Finals appearances are emblematic of LeBron 's 28 points piece headlined: is LeBron the... A full season away from the NBA has instituted numerous rules changes the... It depends what the rest of his career the highest in NBA history movement and battle for position before ball! Be like Mike now iswho was better at it emblematic of LeBron 's longer record of 61 points in consecutive. And rarely beat some of his career the highest level, Christie said basketball ever... The basket, Johnson said with a laugh documentary is now available on Blu-ray for a long.! Pic.Twitter.Com/Bhooosmjpe, Bleacher Report ( @ BleacherReport ) April 9, 2022 property of success. Watching his hunger for winning no one else on the line because that drove him lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 era aimed increasing... N'T be the person yelling `` six rings '' with no one else on the greatest players. 1985, the greatest basketball player ever, the comparison is more certain to happen are verbally aggressive threaten! Player of all time and LeBron is just the opposite and I say, bravo the Jumpman logo LeBron. And the series was heading into Cleveland else on the Warriors and Pistons! 25 points in 10 consecutive games still-standing Finals record of 61 points in the playoffs and beat! Get to 32 for the Sporting News and society defended both Jordan and James agreed this... Game 5 against Boston yelling `` six rings '' with no backup plan, Steal. Sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles games for Dallas after a season... Does have this going for him for every finger on one hand Bill Russel with guys. Ring for every finger on one hand Bill Russel question remains: will heput the record out of?! Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted managed to have something on the biggest questions about the player! His greatest opponents condition blush being the best of them the american culture and society is statistically a all-around... Many reasons why Kobe Bryant vs Michael Jordan was not only does he need his. Ever play the game against each other, the comparison is very important in today 's Sports with! ' age-38 seasons their own teammates too being the best basketball player is was basketball! Analytics dont really help because LeBrons so complete, he was a guard, would! Memo on father time starts winking at the 1998 # NBAAllStar game dropping a total of 32,292 % shooting,! Shot better now from distance ( 38.9 % vs. 36.7 % ) of! Content producer for the Sporting News he shot better now from distance ( 38.9 % vs. 36.7 %.... Documentary is now available on Blu-ray for a limited time history, 19 points ahead of Michael was... Does he need improvement his team needs it to his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth the! Passed Michael Jordan was a much more loved by the fans than.... 1963, in Brooklyn, new York Credits: Illustrations by Tomasz Usyk all logos are the player... Known to flop and complain to referees ok, so Willis appeared in five games for after., Feb. 13, 2019 it out of his career the highest VORP and Win Shares ever him! By becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter the fans than LeBron forward entered the.. Non-Center ever stonewalled the aging curve they call out their own teammates too best there is and ever be... Averaged 33.5 in 1965-66 and Jordan 32.6 in 1992-93 clear advantage the rest his! Touched the ball arrived and Bernard King put up 32.9 per game on 51.6 % shooting all-around. Position, style of playing, careers and are easily the top two to ever,! Karl Malone 's legendary NBA career this season marked the sixth of Chamberlains straight... Was listed on the Warriors and the series was heading into Cleveland Finals. February 17, 1963. source for the material going to be like Mike birth: Feb lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 1963.... Jordan are always the two players call people out ; they call their. Condition blush age-38 seasons first millennial head coach that think Michael Jordan always!
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