Here we go again. The same old debate about the GOAT in the NBA. Who is it? LeBron James or Michael Jordan? It’s the tale that never dies.
If you happen to be Shannon Sharpe, Nick Wright, Rich Paul, or anyone in that category, there is nothing like LeBron James. If you are Sharpe, you are even willing to jump on an NBA court during a game and fight the opposition just to protect James.
Sadly, this group is in the minority. The greatest player in NBA History is Michael Jordan. God forbid we put LeBron James, the NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer, as #2 all-time; it’s so disrespectful, right? Get over it.
Michael Jordan, not LeBron James, is the greatest basketball player in the history of the game.
There are far too many reasons to explain LeBron James’ greatness and make no mistake about it. He has not only been great on the court, winning four titles in ten trips to the finals, winning Finals MVP in all of them, and making the greatest comeback in finals history against a 73-9 Warriors team. Not to mention his work off the court.
Having said all of that, Michael Jordan is on a different level, or rather, a different stratosphere. It’s not just the shoes, which continue to be the most popular brand of sneakers, including the Jordan 11’s. It’s that MJ completely changed the game of basketball – on a worldwide scale.
Whenever Michael Jordan stepped on the court, he was BOX OFFICE, just like LeBron James. But, when he stepped on the court, it put fear in everyone’s eyes, even those who beat him like Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, and those great Celtics teams. The Pistons? They just beat him up physically until he got even, so much so that they refused to shake hands when they were beaten.
The Last Dance documentary highlighted a lot. While Jordan could be selfish and overly driven to win, so much so that it bothered many, including his teammates, his work ethic could not be questioned. That explains why he can win SIX NBA Championship and not lose ONE SINGLE TIME. Those series’ never got to a seventh game.
The game was more physical back in those days than now, where load management has become the norm, and fouls are called more frequently. Also, other flaws hinder LeBron James.
Jordan has ten scoring titles, and LeBron only has one. Jordan was never swept in the finals; LeBron felt it twice. Regarding All-Defense First Team awards, Jordan has nine times, and James five times. In other words, Michael Jordan has the upper hand. But then comes the impact on the game of basketball.
While LeBron developed a killer instinct, MJ walked into the league with it. No one taught him how to have that. That puts him over the top. Case closed, end of story. There will never be another LeBron James, and he is the real deal. But who’s better? It is clearly Michael Jeffrey Jordan.
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Author: Sravan Gannavarapu
September 30, 2023 | 8:00 am
