Is LeBron James Better Than Michael Jordan?
Scottie Pippen said that LeBron James may be better than Michael Jordan on Mike and Mike in the Morning. Since then, Pippen has rephrased and retracted, buckling under pressure and criticism.
LeBron's collapse in the 2011 NBA Finals must have felt like a pie in the face.
Still, Pippen fired back defensively on Twitter, telling fans that while they can continue watching and cheering, he actually played the game, intimating that his opinion is more valuable than theirs.
I can imagine exactly how some Chicago fans must have treated him to incite such a reaction. I've been Twitter-bombed by the same bunch of goons, but personally, I don't think Pippen needed to tap-dance or flip-flop. Whether you think that he has some sidekick complex or that he's looking at the two impartially and making an honest rationalization, if you look at what he said closely, it's not completely outside of the realm of the possibility.
Here's the quote:
"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to ever play in the game, but I may go as far as to say that LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he's so potent offensively that not only can he score at will, but he keeps everybody involved and you have to be on your P's and Q's on defense because no guy on the basketball court is not a threat to score when LeBron James is out there."
The operative word is may.
Not only does may imply that Pippen doesn't think it's objectively true, but also that he probably thinks LeBron has more work to do before you can start the discussion.
There's absolutely no sense in comparing LeBron's eight year career to Michael Jordan's entire career, so we'll just throw that out right off the bat.
But first, should we even make the comparison? Absolutely. At 26, LeBron statistically outperforms both Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and just about every other player not called Michael Jordan in the history of basketball by a considerable margin.
For instance, his numbers tower over Kobe Bryant's.
So how do LeBron and MJ compare?
Regular season numbers through age 26:
LeBron - 27.7 pts 7.1 rebs 7.0 asts 1.7 stls 0.8 blks 47.9 FG% 32.9 3P% 74.4 FT%
Jordan - 32.8 pts 6.3 rebs 6.0 asts 2.7 stls 1.0 blks 51.6 FG% 28.2 3P% 84.8 FT%
As you can see, Pippen was right in calling Jordan a better scorer since Jordan averaged about 5 more points than LeBron per game and was a more efficient shooter from the charity stripe and the field. Jordan also has the defensive edge; he racked up a lot more steals and blocks, while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award once and already being considered the best perimeter defender in the league by the age of 26.
LeBron has been among the top perimeter defenders in the NBA for over half a decade, but he's not as dominant or consistent defensively as Jordan was.
It's important to note that both players have elevated their games in the playoffs, though Jordan outshines LeBron in this respect as well. LeBron becomes a much better rebounder in the playoffs and scores an extra point, but Jordan averaged an astonishing almost 36 points per game and an extra rebound and assist.
As Pippen suggested, Lebron actually does a few things better than Michael. He boasts marginal advantages in the rebounding and dishing, but these differences are not substantial enough to compensate for Jordan's offensive and defensive superiority.
King James is right in being humbled by a comparison to His Airness. MJ was and is the greatest basketball player to have ever lived.
So, the short answer to the question posed in the title is no. And, I'll even take it further and declare, with very little doubt, that having watched both play for years, I don't think there's anything LeBron could do to eclipse the man that hung from the air.
As unlikely as it may be, LeBron could win seven titles and eight MVPs and he still won't match what we all witnessed in the late '80s and '90s from Air Jordan.
Jordan was that spectacular.
That said, it's a testament to LeBron's greatness that we'll continue making this comparison for the rest of his career.
And, at his current pace, whether you like him or not, LeBron will probably end up a top five player to ever pick up a basketball.
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Published by Charles Joel
Charles is an educator and writer. He has been published on Yahoo! Sports and Yahoo! News. You can now follow Charles on Twitter @Charles_Joel or by clicking the link on the bottom left of this profile.... View profile
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18 Comments
Post a CommentLeBrick better then Jordan what a joke. Give hime 5 more years and see what his stats and how many rings he has then let's talk. Charles get a real job.
Adam Morrison has more rings than Lebronski and King Stern doesn't like that for his Minora brand. Why else would he ILLEGALLY BLOCK the CP3 trade? Welcome to the Soviet Socialist Republic of Stern. Stern would have been nothing without M.J.'s legacy and is an atrociy of an NBA Commissioner. Heat fans rejoice, King James will get his ring, alas, in Prime Minister Stern's 66 game joke of a slave trade blockade. Free CP3! Free CP3! Free CP3! Oh wait, only the Heat, Knicks and Nets are allowed to work blockbuster deals for star players. My bad...I think there's a high school game in Poughkeepsie that I would rather watch than the Nationalized Blockade Association...
Charles Joel trolling as usual with his ' why my team is better than yours' articles.
Another stats comparison... won't these writers realize that comparing stats is pointless especially since Jordan and Lebron play different positions. Of course Lebron would have more rebounds, he is a forward (and bigger) while Jordan is an SG. Lebron has more assists not because he is better at passing but rather because of his style of play (drive and finish or dish out to open man) and he hasn't played with true point guards (sorry Mo Williams). Jordan has less assists because he has a very reliable jump shot so he doesn't need to pass often.
Comparing Jordan's and Kobe's stats makes more sense though some can still make arguments for differences in their team dynamics and respective eras.
Still, regardless of stats, my senses tell me that Jordan is the best. Lebron... well, he probably has more talent and athleticism than Jordan and Kobe but he's just not there yet.
I am so sick of these stupid comments lebron is better than no one. Better where? He is not as good from the free throw line, he is not better from the field he has no post up game he has no rings right? So if you are supposed to be better shouldn't one actually be better on paper? Talent does not translate to better. He probably will never be better than Jordan or Kobe for that matter.
Are you kidding me? More athletic doesn't mean anything! Remember Larry Bird how great he was? Couldn't run or jump and not a great athlete, but he could play ball as a team player and leader and could perform when the game was on the line. Jordan could do it all, Kobey can do it all. LeBron is a me player! Sure LeBron is a great athlete but that doesn't qualify him as a great basketball player. He needs to worry about what he can do for the team, not a monster slam that will make the highlite reels. He has always been a chocker! He can't play team ball and when he try's he's out of his element. I hope Akeem teaches him more than basketball this summer. Scotty Pipen is jealous of all of MJ! He want's to have the same status as MJ and will never get it. Great player and team mate but not a shinning star like MJ. Scotty was never a player like MJ, Bird, Magic, Akeem! These guys could put the team on they're back and win!
no
HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to say anything else is a JOKE: James better than Jordan-he even not better than Kobe, Duncan, Malone, Barkley,
O'Neal etc and etc ...........................................................................................................
....oh come on people...wasn't it obvious that Pippen was trying to throw something out there with shock value when he first made that statement about LBJ being greater ?! Why do you suppose he was so quick to make a half-a** retraction......he realized he'd just made a bone-head comment that would have tremendous repercussions, especially with his former teammate MJ. You can pretend that MJ wasn't that prolific a scorer, but to watch what he did every playoff was history unfolding for our viewing pleasure ! I'll never forget his "flu game" in which he showed just why he's the greatest !!
As Oscar Robertson is often quoted... when asked... who is the greatest basketball player who ever lived? - "The books... don't lie."
Wilt Chamberlain - and no one else is even close.