But the worst sports argument of the past decade concerns lebron james. Lebron james is better than michael jordan, regardless of. With a dunk on march 30, 2018, lebron james passed michael jordan in the record books. Lebron has also played on worse teams with worse coaches. Lebron james remains one of the most popular topics in sports. Lets throw out some numbers real fast to compare these 3 best players of all time. Heres how lebron james compares with michael jordan at age 33. Is lebron james, at 33, better than he was 5 years ago. Michael jordan versus library binding december 15, 2017 by brian howell author. Where michael jordan, lebron james stack up after his 1. Also, take note that james scored and assisted in 57. Jordan, who played 15 nba seasons, retired in 2003 with a career scoring average of 30.
List of career achievements by lebron james wikipedia. Right from the get go michael jordan started winning hearts of many fans through his mesmerizing play of basketball. Jordan, who played 15 nba seasons, retired in 2003 with a career scoring average. In 2015, with love and irving injured, james somehow won two games with a squad of backups. Cleveland, ohio lebron james says hes not like mike. Nor is lebron responsible for jordan having retired after the sixthtitle season of 199798, eventually returning in 200102 with washington. These numbers are as of the end of the 20172018 season since leb. Earlier in the season, james scored as many as 30 points in an nba game for the first time in a doubleovertime thriller against the grizzlies. He also had two other games of 401411 and 4488, but the cavs lost those contests. May 10, 2018 olbermann weighs in on the jordan lebron debate 3. Whos had better teammates, lebron james or michael jordan. Apr 28, 2020 michael jordan had a losing record in the playoffs against 9 hall of famers, 6 of which he never beat in the postseason.
Lebron james surpassed michael jordan in one measure of scoring consistency last season in a 107102. So who is the greatest basketball player of alltime. Michael jordan is widely considered to be the greatest player in nba history. Lebron james matched up with future cavaliers teammate richard jefferson and the new jersey nets on march 27, 2004. James is reaching 30,000 at age 33, midway through his 15th nba season. This took almost 2 hours to compile, but here it is so that you may get a better perspective. The simple, if extremely unpopular, truth is that lebron james is better and greater than michael jordan ever was through his first 27 years of life. The nba has seen countless stars over the years, but the debate over which of these goats shines.
Michael jeffrey jordan born february 17, 1963, also known by his initials mj, is an american former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the charlotte hornets of the national basketball association nba. Sports and racing nba this is a split board you can return to the split list for other boards. Lebron james scored 31 points wednesday in the lakers 11599. By the same age, jordan averaged 29 points per match, 4. Michael jordan debate will rage on forever, espn broke down each players stats in their age33 season. He led the miami heat to nba titles in 2012 and 20 and won another championship with cleveland. Only 9 out of 48 hall of fame opponents jordan faced were in the finals, 18%. The chicago bulls michael jordan celebrates with teammate scottie pippen, left, as the bulls beat the utah jazz 9086 in game 6 to win the nba championship on friday, june, 1997, in chicago. The case for why lebron james is a better basketball. Mar 06, 2019 with a dunk on march 30, 2018, lebron james passed michael jordan in the record books. Michael jordan s respective numbers by the same age were 28,439 and 5,065.
Sports punditry and analysis is always full of bad arguments and poorly thoughtout opinions. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players in nba history, and discussions ranking him as the greatest basketball player of all time have often been subject to significant debate. Lebron james moves above michael jordan on the alltime points list but is a long way short of matching his fortune. Jordan won his fifth title by 33, lebron has won three. Among active nba players, the only one who has even a shot at contesting michael jordan s status as the greatest of all time is lebron james. Jordan finished with 32,292 points, retiring after 15 seasons at the age of 40. Lebron james beats michael jordans nba points but short on.
Lebron james surpassed michael jordan in one measure of scoring consistency last season in a. Mar 07, 2019 lebron james moves above michael jordan on the alltime points list but is a long way short of matching his fortune. Obviously, id be stunned to see lebron rattle off a 3peat from age 3234 as jordan did. Michael jordan comparison headtohead comparison between the nba stars michael jordan and lebron james that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side. Thenprep phenom lebron james left shakes hands with michael jordan in 2003. Michael jordan is a real conversation now, so lets have it comparing the two alltime greats by rodger sherman may 31, 2017, 12. Michael jordan debate will rage on forever, espn broke down each players stats in their age 33 season. Lebron james beats michael jordans nba points but short. Lebron james is flatout better than michael jordan. Lebron james vs michael jordan whos the superior player. Lebron james began his career with the cleveland cavaliers and current. Feb 14, 2019 james, who has a career scoring average of 27. And then along came lebron james, a challenger to the throne unlike any before him.
Wire photosfile it seems to be the raging sports debate of the day, and i find it amusing that its taken so many people interested in basketball so long to. By age 33 years, 0 days, lebron james played 42,582 minutes in the nba regular season and 9,127 in the playoffs. How lebron can build a case against michael jordan in the. Both men have lifetime sponsorship deals with sportswear brand nike. Either jordan or james has featured in more than half the leagues finals since 1991, when jordan.
It is my job, as your humble referee, to introduce. Nov 07, 2017 hes seven years younger than jordan was at the time of his 1,072nd career game lebron started his career two months shy of his 19th birthday so king james has some time to catch up. Jordan was 6 for 6 in nba finals with james 3 for 8. Who is better lebron james, kobe bryant, or michael jordan. Michael jordan had a losing record in the playoffs against 9 hall of famers, 6 of which he never beat in the postseason. Review the facts below and let us know your opinion. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Relive the fateful night thenhigh school phenom lebron james met michael jordan, through the lens of grant wahls feature on lebron from sports illustrated in 2002. Lebron also plays every position including center and defense incredibly well at all of them. Michael jordan was drafted into the nba in 1984 and he played most of his prime years in the 1990s. Lebron james is one of the best basketball players currently active. Also consider that michael jordan never had an above.
Is lebron james or michael jordan the greatest nba player of. Lebron and michael have the same number of titles at age 31. Right now, lebron james is better, as well as greater, than michael jordan ever was at the same age. Lebron james was a young high school star who had yet to make his big impression on the national stage when he first met michael jordan, who was preparing for.
At 34 and with three more seasons remaining on his current contract. Offensively, lebron s a better passer, but jordan s definitely no slouch in that regard, and in turn jordan is a much superior scorer, evidenced by his 10 scoring titles and 31. Mo williams, anderson varejao, delonte west, zydrunas ilgauskas, wally szczerbiak. Anyone who chooses either of the others are choosing based of nostalgia and emotion. The comparison between james and jordan, once premature, is now fair to make. Regular season stats jordan is superior in the scoring department, but james grabs rebounds and dishes out assists at a higher rate. Lebron james passed michael jordan on the nbas alltime career scoring list, so here are eight graphs comparing their point totals. He became the first rookie since jordan to average at least 20. Wants to chase michael jordan s ghost, sure, but james said he doesnt compare himself to jordan at this stage of their careers age 32. Jun 22, 2012 right now, lebron james is better, as well as greater, than michael jordan ever was at the same age. Feb 17, 2020 lebron james became an immediate star after skipping college to join the nbas cleveland cavaliers. Rather than clash on the court, they dominated their respective eras.
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