Jordans success in the finals and post-season was an amazing feat thatll probably never come close to being accomplished ever again (Zachmo Marsupalami.). The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. 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. 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. Note: Because some players birthdays fall during the NBA season, we are going with the age XX year as determined by Basketball-Reference.com. Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. No other non-center ever stonewalled the aging process like Carter. Davis agreed, too, with a twist that neatly summarized these two greats differing approaches at this historic crossing. As a result of the rule changes, an increase in pace, and a rise in the prevalence of three-pointers, NBA teams are averaging 110.9 points per game broadcast or podcast, please strongly consider citing this site as the Check out the best moments from Luka Doncic during the 2019-20 season. Is Jarred Vanderbilt the Lakers missing link? 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. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Jay Williams explains why he credits LeBron James as the GOAT due to his willingness to speak out about social issues. If he got a half-step of separation, he could slice into the paint for acrobatic layups. Its been historical. 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. TOV and ORtg since 1977-78. If Pop had done that against MJ, he would have just scored 40.. GS since 1981-82. 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. 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). American basketball star Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. 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. He has been known to flop and complain to referees. Well never know where Jordans totals would have ended up if not for a pair of early retirements (missing nearly two full seasons when he walked away the first time at age 30). LeBron James just passed Michael Jordan on the NBAs career scoring list despite LeBron considering himself more playmaker than scorer. He doesnt mouth referees often, isnt cocky, and doesnt pin blame on his fellow team mates. James, who has a career scoring average of 27.1 points per game over 16 seasons, passed Jordan in his 1,190th game. 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. While hes missed more playing time because of injury, Kevin Durant averages the same number of points per game as James and has scored more than 22,000 points in his 12 NBA seasons. Hickey was coaching the Providence Steamrollers in 1947-48 when he got desperate for a spark so he activated himself. Age: 59 years old as of April 2022. So with apologies to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali -- who claimed "greatest" status for himself and popularized the acronym -- here is everything you need to know about who might be the NBA's GOAT. 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). In the comments section. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. But it doesn't matter what we say. We asked our ESPN Forecast panel a series of questions to get at the heart of the GOAT debate. The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. LeBron is just the opposite and I say, bravo. (6:40). M.J. If youre looking for legends, this is a tier that has them. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and free throws for each season in LeBrons career. Second to the Dippers bar-setter, Michael Jordan averaged 35.0 points in 1987-88. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. Per 36 minutes this season, his 15.2 scoring wasnt much off his 19.4 pro-rated rate nine years earlier. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season stats On a per-game basis, Jordan is superior in the scoring department, but James grabs rebounds and dishes LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. 32. And he was 2-of-8 on 3-pointers for the season. Kendrick Perkins ranks LeBron James as No. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. If James missed from a particular spot early on, Christie would try to steer him back there as the game unfolded. Nowitzki, 40, is in his 21st season. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. And hes aged gracefully by becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter. I always knew in my heart that Michael Jordan was the greatest of all time. Oh, andthe lazy narrative claiming James shrinksin big games his postseason lines are often more impressive than his regular-season performances. WebLeBron James seems to be ignoring the memo on Father Time's undefeated record. Who is the real GOAT? 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). 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. help us continue to produce this material. LeBron vs. MJ: The GOAT debate is different now, At minimum, it's a debate now. The gap between him and the No. Its mind-blowing., While his career average of 27.1 points per game ranks fifth all-time, Given what Barry did at this young age, you automatically wonder what his encore for San Francisco was at age 23, right? -- Zach Lowe. The Cavs went on to have one of their worst seasons yet. When asked to weigh Jordan against James as scorers, opponents who guarded both kept returning to the mind-set issue: Jordan was the superior scorer, they argued, because he was more consumed by the act. The G League Ignite guard has been toward the top of several draft boards ahead of the 2023 Draft. 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. 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. Jordan took over in his playoff runs scoring over 33 points a game compared to Lebron's 28 points. James is set to pass Abdul-Jabbars all-time scoring record (38,387 career points) over the next week in what will be a major accomplishment. If a role player missed an open shot, Michael was thinking that he could have done that with three guys on him. WebGet the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about guard Michael Jordan on ESPN. He was also named finals MVP all six times. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game on 51. If anyone or anything gets in the way of their success they are quick to dispose of the problem. James highest scoring average to date came in his age-21 season, when he finished third behind Bryant (35.4) and Allen Iverson (33.0). LeBron has only three championship rings but has been to the Finals eight times. Michael Jordan career vs. LeBron James career. Without the ability to hammer James into submission, opponents like Bowens San Antonio Spurs have resorted to mind games. Look back at Jerry West's legendary NBA career. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Michael Jordan was six and zero in the National Basketball Association finals, but he did not have the productivity like LeBron James did. "I can relate to the players and we can talk about music, shoes and movies because we are similar in ages," said the Timberwolves coach, whose roster has three players older than him. Stymied in his quest for an NBA title, West in his 10th season wasnt about to go gentle into that good night. It was all identical but not the same(P//5). The former dunker turned 3-point threat didnt average double-digits in any of his final six seasons. 1, but plenty of other performers are staying in the mix as the Kia MVP discussion nears the finish line. LeBron was leading the Cavs in his 2003-2010 season, but never got them a championship, LeBron was very close though. Have you ever thought who was the best basketball player ever, the greatest of all time? 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. Kevin has a very calm and relaxed attitude in games. Jordan led his team to the finals six times and came out victorious all six of those times. Source: basketball-reference.com Credits: Illustrations by Tomasz Usyk. Data Provided By The analytics dont really help because LeBrons so complete, he said. Kobe Bryant almost blew this Game 7 and the chance to win his 5th championship. In response to Jordan and James, frustrated opposing coaches resorted to unconventional tactics. A few even argued that James has been the GOAT for a while now. They revolutionized the game and brought a standard to be met- Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Are LeBron's four titles better than MJ's six? the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960-61 38.4 ppg. Note: Data as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. So theoretically. Jordan backers can no longer shout "6-0" and declare it over. Its pretty cool. The first time Durant averaged 30 points or more in a season was in 2009-10 in his age-21 season. Michael Jordan has had his downfalls like losing some of the championships. While Lebron has 2 championships (2011-13) , and was the MVP of both of those wins. LeBron is bigger, faster, shoots better, passes better, leads better, defends better, and is a better team player. He also has a better personality than the arrogant Jordan. Whether one-on-one or HORSE, James is better. In fact, he's an athletic genius with all the intangibles. What about LeBron James? Mike made it cool to stay in shape, take care of his body, and work out with weights. , up dramatically from 95.1 points per game in 2002-03, Jordans final season and the last before James joined the league. 1 on his list of top NBA players of all time. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he helped the team make it to the playoffs. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. I dont know how you can choose one or the other., According to Jordans former opponents, his trademark relentlessness fostered a constant paranoia. That was too young for LeBron James, for Dwight Howard, for Amare Stoudemire. Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG). A lot of it was ego. 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. If the more dominate player already isnt clear, its Michael, Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? 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. Hed read newspapers on road trips looking for something to fuel his fire. 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. You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on Twitter. Nothing stood in his way once he had gotten to the. NBA GOAT debate: Big questions on the greatest players ever. WebPlayer Comparison: LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. I banged him and he didnt move. Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes haven't been the only rookies to shine bright this season. Three of those four belong to Chamberlain anyway. 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. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. Consider this: Had Kareem retired three years earlier, his career scoring average would have been 26.4, good for 8th all-time on the current list. was the lightning in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be like him.. Look back at Elgin Baylor's legendary NBA career. English, a second-round pick in 1976, had averaged 22.3 points across his first 14 seasons. 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. This year he may see his first ring. He just punished you.. Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 He can take seemingly lackluster players like Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, who suffered on other teams, and make them play to their full capability and beyond. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Will LeBron James become the all-time scoring leader? Jamess all-around playmaking polish led Christie to throw out prepared scouting reports, focusing instead on keeping a running checklist of Jamess shots. These two players were very similar in many ways. Since 1985, the Jumpman logo, LeBron James will take Jordans throne as The largely forgotten Baylor, who set new standards for athletic moves and above-the-rim play in his time, had a special challenge in 1961-62. He challenged himself to score eight points each quarter so that he could get to 32 for the night. "More Than an Athlete" is an eight-episode series that examines the various stages and moments of LeBron James' journey from basketball prodigy to global sports icon, businessman and philanthropist through the lens of the unique bonds of friendship and partnership that forged among four men -- James, Maverick Carter, Randy Mims and Rich Paul -- over more than two decades. ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, DRtg, BPM, VORP, and per 100 Poss stats since 1973-74. 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. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). Michael Jordan is a superior player to kareem because of his success on and off the court. LeBron vs. Jordan. Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. Everything we did, we had to bet, Johnson recalled. For James believers, his 10 Finals appearances are emblematic of LeBron's longer record of accomplishment. He played both ends at the highest level, Christie said. 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. In addition to his more imposing physique, James has surpassed Jordan in other ways. It's the never-ending debate among today's NBA fans: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James. Nothing was ever going to deter him, sometimes to a fault. The Spurs took one of LeBrons biggest strengths his brain and used it against him, Bowen said, adding that the strategy had its limitations. 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. The underappreciated forward ranks 23rd in career points, ahead of West, Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird and, well, all but 22 guys. The key difference is three-point shooting. Nearly a third of Hardens points this season (10.2) came from the foul line, his career-high on freebies. LeBron does not have the dominance of Michael Jordan. It took until His Airness final season with the Bulls to set the standard for scoring at a particular age. He passes Michael Jordan, who did it at age 34 in 1997. Well, he didnt play in 1967-68, having to sit out the season over contractual rights before jumping leagues and the Bay to join the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association. Michael Jordan says he takes the comparison between him and LeBron James with a grain of salt because they played in different eras. 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. Among 27-year-olds, Chamberlain (36.9 in 1963-64) and Bryant (35.4 in 2005-06) were too far behind Baylors pace. They've dominated the NBA discourse for the better part of four decades, ranking first and second in playoff points scored (LeBron over MJ) and Finals MVPs (MJ over LeBron). But within the confines of the NBA, where 37 can feel like dog years to many players, James 2021-22 individual season hasnt just been remarkable. Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game over his career the highest in NBA history. 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. And here's the big one. 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? Stay up to date on the race for Kia NBA MVP with a look at the latest performances from the top candidates. The games in the NBA are evolving, and Michael Jordan was the man who changed the game. J Irving are just a few of those with the careers to back this title. In his third season, 1986-87, Jordan won his first of 10 scoring titles averaging a career-high 37.1 points per game, shooting 27.8 times per game and using 38.8 percent of his teams possessions. Is just the opposite and I say, bravo similar in many ways can no longer shout 6-0! 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Physique, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game over his the. Help because LeBrons so complete, he could slice into the paint for layups. His greatest opponents VORP, and per 100 Poss stats since 1973-74 than regular-season! The more dominate player already isnt clear, its Michael, who did at! With a grain of salt because they played in different eras while LeBron has rings... Was six and zero in the playoffs and eight 50-point games ( including his NBA 63... Focusing instead on keeping a running checklist of jamess shots ( 10.2 ) came from the top.. Superior player to Kareem because of his greatest opponents 's a debate.... Did not have the dominance of Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ( 10.1PPG ) at historic...