M.J. There is a chance, maybe a good one, that James drives this GOAT conversation closer to a consensus than anyone would have imagined possible a decade ago. -- Kevin Pelton. waitingfornextyear.com interviewer Kyrie and he said Irving steps up in says that he will have two rings of his own before his career comes to the end.. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. Jordan even holds the record for most points per game with 43.7 in the 1986 playoffs. If not, we would have to extend it for a fellow named Nat Hickey who was two days shy of his 46th birthday when he became and remains the oldest player to take the floor for a team in the NBA (actually the precursor Basketball Association of America). Remember when LeBron scored 25 straight points? Cassell asked, referring to a 2007 playoff game between Jamess Cavaliers and the Pistons. The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. The 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. Here are a few more fan reactions in favor of James: The GOAT debate will likely continue on with no end for the foreseeable future. Fancy footwork: Why NBA players love pedicures, Meet Ryan Saunders, 32, the NBAs first millennial head coach. Please logout and login again. The only question now is, Who is the best basketball player?, Although the stats do not lie, people still believe there is an argument to be made over who the greatest basketball player of all time is because of the number of championships won. Six championships. Curiously, his 10th scoring crown came with his lowest average of the bunch, but it was enough to edge Shaquille ONeals 28.3 that season. 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. The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. The first award we will look at is the R.O.Y award. With a film crew following them all season, "the last dance," as coach Phil Jackson called it, would be shadowed by tension and an overwhelming sense that their storied run was coming to an end. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 It took until His Airness final season with the Bulls to set the standard for scoring at a particular age. WebGet the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about guard Michael Jordan on ESPN. Jordan carried the Bulls on his back and won a NBA championship, something LeBron James has not done. Both own many companies and are endorsed by big-name brands like McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Gatorade. LeBron is the exact opposite of Kevin Durant. The two never met on the court; Jordan retired for the third and final time (as a Washington Wizard) two months before the Cleveland Cavaliers made James the No. The harsh debate has gone on ever since Lebrons rookie season in 2004 when people started comparing him to Jordan. Click on the red text to pre-fill the form with various values, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 4:56AM. J Irving are just a few of those with the careers to back this title. The Warriors dominated the series, winning four games to two. When thinking of greatness in the realm of basketball, these two definitely come to mind. Both came to the NBA out of high school, both have been very high place since those early years, and made a huge impact on the league. As James grew into a tantalizing basketball prospect capable of jumping from high school to the NBA as the No. Jordan didnt bother to bait anyone. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. In addition to his more imposing physique, James has surpassed Jordan in other ways. They both managed to have a killer mentality where winning was the number one priority, and health was just a second thought. LeBron is probably going to pass Kareem and we dont even think of him as a scorer, said Sacramento Kings color commentator Doug Christie, who defended James during his 2003 pro debut. 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. He passes Michael Jordan, who did it at age 34 in 1997. Are LeBron's four titles better than MJ's six? free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. This season marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles. The NBA has instituted numerous rules changes in the post-Jordan era aimed at increasing scoring, curbing physical play and encouraging freedom of movement. He has been known to flop and complain to referees. MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game 7 to win those series. The top three point scorers of all time are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant, respectively. And he shot better now from distance (38.9% vs. 36.7%). Now that James isthe NBA's all-time leading scorer, one question remains: Will heput the record out of reach? Its amazing to realize that The Beard averaged more points at 29 than Wilt, Jordan or anybody else in NBA history. Aaron Williams contributed to the graphics. If the more dominate player already isnt clear, its Michael, Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? 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. There are many reasons why Kobe Bryant is a better basketball than Michael Jordan. Source: basketball-reference.com Credits: Illustrations by Tomasz Usyk. Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG). Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. 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. Most Valuable Player, NBA Champion, NBA All-Starthese are cover of a book of achievements earned by the most popular player in todays basketball community, Lebron James. These two players were very similar in many ways. Look back at Elgin Baylor's legendary NBA career. James' recent scoring run has brought his season averages up to 30.2PPG, 8.5RPG and 7.1APG on 50.5% shooting. Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Dwyane Wade are among the current crop of players who have copied Jordans style, and they have to thank him because of the enormous popularity that he has brought to the game. 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 Only 139 NBA players have scored more than 15,000 points, and just seven have crossed the 30,000 mark. Look back at Michael Jordan's legendary NBA career. Since 1985, the Jumpman logo, LeBron James will take Jordans throne as the greatest of all time. Armand Emamdjomeh makes data visualizations, maps and graphics. 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. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and. Considering James' elite scoring production at age 37, we examine the NBA's all-time highest scorers by age. A lot of it was ego. He had to dial it back to win his titles. pointers and free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. If youre looking for legends, this is a tier that has He averaged 31.2 points in a career-high 42 minutes nightly. 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. -- Zach Lowe. 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. While Lebron is in his thirteenth year in the NBA, made it to the finals seven times, and won three out of those seven times. Kobe Bryant Stats: 23 Points, 15 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steal, 0 Blocks. This is where the scoring numbers start to drop off, for two simple reasons: Not a lot of NBA players stick around this long and skills invariably diminish with age. Michael Jordan may have retired, but he still a 5 time MVP trophy winner, he also been in 6 championship games. He had been called to active duty in the U.S. Army Reserves and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. 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. Do you have a sports website? RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. During games he blames the referees for every game error. Do legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have a stronger case than Michael Jordan? As always, he was a physical specimen, but he was a far cry from his prime when he averaged 18.2 points and 12.9 rebounds from 1992 through 1995 for Atlanta and Miami. Against Jordan, Smith was expected to freelance off his man at a moments notice to provide help. Everything we did, we had to bet, Johnson recalled. He had to have something on the line because that drove him.. Want to see a confident and chiseled basketball player in peak physical condition blush? While both players are known for tenacious defense on the wing, Jordan finished first in the league in steals three times in his career. LeBron feels he's the GOAT after Cavs' 2016 title win. In the playoffs, he set the still-standing Finals record of 61 points in Game 5 against Boston. If Jordan got to his preferred spots, he could set up his trademark turnaround. 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. TOV and ORtg since 1977-78. 1, but plenty of other performers are staying in the mix as the Kia MVP discussion nears the finish line. Some might say it is Michael Jordan, but currently some people might argue it is actually Lebron James, who is the greatest player of all time. (That's a term of endearment.). TRB since 1950-51. The gap in total numbers will widen as long as James stays healthy, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down at age 38. The only question now is, Who is the best, He has been to the NBA Finals six times and all six times he and the Chicago Bulls were world champions. Bucks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Grizzlies vs. What about LeBron James? Michael Jordan and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf recount a funny conversation when discussing his recovery from a foot injury. If he got a half-step of separation, he could slice into the paint for acrobatic layups. (Greatest of All Time). Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Fountain Valley collision leaves one driver dead, another hospitalized, OC sheriffs deputies foil attempted jail escape, SoCalGas unveils $10 million to help customers hit by high prices, Thousands in Southern California are expected to lose out on Medi-Cal after April, Status Update: Life Time country club gym opening in Irvine, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, As many as 700,000 Illinois residents could lose Medicaid health coverage this year, Balloon ban made official in Laguna Beach, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Did you ever want to know who the greatest basketball player is? 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. However, Jordan has been much more loved by the fans than LeBron. (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. LeBron James and Stephen Curry have put up ageless scoring numbers. 32. They have both made the most impact for their respective teams, they have also made rookie of the year their first years. This still doesn't change the fact that Michael Jordan and LeBron James won 2 Olympic gold medals. 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. After NBA legend Isiah Thomas says he'd take LeBron James over Michael Jordan, the SportsNation crew weighs in on the classic debate. Nationality: American. BPM, VORP, handedness not available for WNBA. Photo: KevinMazur. MJ attends the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. , up dramatically from 95.1 points per game in 2002-03, Jordans final season and the last before James joined the league. The debate rages on. I banged him and he didnt move. This age difference could give James more time to catch up to his record. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. Should LeBron be listed No. Both players do not care about who is going to be new faces of NBA or whatever. James averaged 27.2 as a 20-year-old NBA sophomore. If Pop had done that against MJ, he would have just scored 40.. Nothing was ever going to deter him, sometimes to a fault. 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. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. 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.. Bryant vs LeBron James vs Michael Jordan: stats, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: The key stats NBA 24/7 - Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: NBA Better 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. LeBron vs. MJ: The GOAT debate is different now, At minimum, it's a debate now. Note: Data as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. With five regular-season MVPs and three All-Star MVPs, Jordan became the most decorated player in the NBA. Nikola Jokic remains at No. Jordan took over in his playoff runs scoring over 33 points a game compared to Lebron's 28 points. 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 WebEvery time Lebron wins a championship ring, he is compared to Jordan more. The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. 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. Sorting only sorts the values in the table shown. most points scored by a player in their 20th season, LeBron James will be GOAT over Michael Jordan once he gets NBA's scoring record, says Chandler Parsons. The underappreciated forward ranks 23rd in career points, ahead of West, Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird and, well, all but 22 guys. (6:40). You can e-mail himhere, findhis archive hereandfollow him on Twitter. Like James, Bryant missed very little time to injury until the end of his career, even playing with a fractured finger for most of a season. ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, taking into consideration both total career value and peak performance. Did you know that Michael Jordan averaged about thirty points a game, and retired with six NBA championships. But he did average 6.5 points in 18.1 minutes in that span of 393 games. Daring James to shoot proved effective for stretches because it caused James to overthink. While Lebron plays the Small forward position, but he can play either five position on the court because of his height and weight coming in at 68 250 pounds. He won both rings playing for the Miami Heat where he had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh backing him up. 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. Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York. Their names are all over the NBA record books in just about every category. Please see our data coverage page for details. 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. Even though they have never played a single playoff game against each other, the comparison is more certain to happen. James is the NBA's all-time scoring leader, but Jordan hit major scoring milestones well ahead of James throughout his career. LOS ANGELES LeBron James passed his idol Michael Jordan on the NBAs all-time scoring list Wednesday night to move into fourth place overall. "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. He is the only player in NBA finals history to never score less than 20 points in any of his finals games. Kendrick Perkins ranks LeBron James as No. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. Stay up to date on the race for Kia NBA MVP with a look at the latest performances from the top candidates. We asked our ESPN Forecast panel a series of questions to get at the heart of the GOAT debate. Compare And Contrast Michael Jordan And Lebroon James, LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan Nowadays, the question that looms over every NBA fan and analysts head is, Who is the greatest of all time? Its important to keep in mind, however, that Abdul-Jabbar also started playing later, at age 22, because of stricter NBA eligibility rules at the time. Previously, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA. Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. James recently missed 18 games due to a strained groin muscle the longest break of his career. As a point forward, he initiates the offense more often, requiring defenders to pick him up farther away from the basket. In your Twitter replies. "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. Michael and Kobe have an unreal drive to win. When thinking of greatness in the realm of basketball, these two definitely come to mind. 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. Doncic was on his way in his second season, posting his largest average to date. Funny conversation when discussing his recovery from a foot injury Jerry Reinsdorf a! 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