Who is the G.O.A.T. of the NBA? LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan
February 27, 2020
Michael Jordan or Lebron James. Who is the best to ever do it? Michael was the greatest of the ’90s and LeBron was the greatest of the 2010s but who is better? The great debate of who is the best basketball player of all time has been argued for years but it is time to end it.
Let’s go by the stats first. In Michael Jordan’s 15-year career, he had 32,292 points and averaged 30.1 points per game. He had 5,633 assists and averaged 5.3 assists per game. Finally, Michael Jordan averaged 6.3 rebounds per game and had 6,672 throughout his career.
LeBron James, on the other hand, is currently in his 17th season and has 32,543+ points in his career and currently averages 27.1 points per game. He currently averages 7.4 assists and has 9,116+ in his career. Finally, 9,199+ is the number of rebounds he currently has and averages 7.4 rebounds per game.
Despite LeBron playing two more seasons than Jordan, he has scored more points, has more assists and has more rebounds than Jordan did and LeBron is still playing! According to stats, LeBron James is a better all-around basketball player than Michael but then the argument of Michael Jordan’s 6 out of 6 record in the NBA Finals compared to LeBron’s 3 out of 9 record in the NBA Finals is what Jordan supporters will often use.
But that is the argument that intrigues me. If someone is basing who the best player of all-time is and they use how many championships they have won then why is Bill Russell not the best player of all time? He won 11 championships and only played 13 seasons! Jordan supporters cannot use this argument because Michael Jordan has not won the most NBA championships.
LeBron James played against arguably the greatest team of all-time in the 2016 NBA Finals and came back from a 3-1 series deficit to win against the 73-win Golden State Warriors. Michael Jordan, on the other hand, played for the team who is the team who is argued with the 2016 Warriors as the greatest team of all time. Michael Jordan has never had to overcome any obstacles in the NBA, unlike LeBron who has brought a team to an NBA Finals with a team that only had one more All-Star.
Although Michael Jordan has won 6 Championships, LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of all time according to statistics and overcoming obstacles.
Bruce • Mar 10, 2020 at 8:35 am
Hi
Your facts are off. Allow me to help you re-write your article.
1. You said “Despite LeBron playing two more seasons than Jordan, he has scored more points, has more assists and has more rebounds than Jordan did and LeBron is still playing!”
Well yes, it took Lebron MORE seasons to top Jordan. He had a superteam for 8 years in the east and kept accumulating stats.
2. You said “According to stats, LeBron James is a better all-around basketball player than Michael”.
Again you are wrong here. Jordan has higher FT%, almost identical FG% and 3%, averaged more points, steals, blocks and less turnovers than Lebron. Jordan also was a better defender than Lebron. Jordan had no weaknesses.
3. As for Jordan has won more rings than Lebron argument, so why is not Bill Russel goat? Well, Jordan has the most trophies from anyone in the least amount of years (11 full seasons with the Bulls).
4. As for Lebron has played against the greatest team coming back from 3-1? That Warriors team lost 9 times in the playoffs. Did all 9 come at the hands of Cavs? Kyrie averaged 28PPG in the playoffs for Cavs. Coming back from 3-1 is nothing to brag about. Jordan would not have gone DOWN 3-1 to the Warriors. Do you see what I am saying? Being the GOAT means exactly that- you are the best at your craft.
Jordan IS the reason the Bulls were the greatest team. That in essence is why a player can be the GOAT. When HE is the reason your team is the best. The same cannot be said for Lebron. With the Heat, he had 3 allstars in their prime and won 2 titles.
Last year Lebron was 10th seed in the west and needed a top 3 talent in Davis to make playoffs.
So please re-write your article and let me know. Don’t claim facts if you do not write where it is coming from. This is just your opinion. Thanks