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NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

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Harvey

NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

Administrator

Lately I'm getting a ton of these emails on sports. Not sure why. I'm running a winter sports site so I must be an expert on, well everything sports related. Not.

But I used to follow sports a bit. Including MJ's 6 championships. I don't think I've ever watch a full game of LeBron. If I had to guess I would have gone with MJ as the best ever. Six championships.

But here are the numbers for each through 765 games:

The Fumble wrote

Lebron James has scored 21,081 points, has 5553 rebounds and 5302 assists

Michael Jordan scored 24,463 points, had 4875 rebounds and 4373 assists

As you can see, Jordan scored 11.6% more points per game than James, but James is the better rebounder by 11.3% and has 12.1% more assists.

While Jordan has the slight scoring edge and James leads in assists and on the boards, the numbers are pretty close all the way around. But that’s not the only area where the stars are eerily similar:

• Both won Rookie of the Year awards.

• Jordan excelled on defense, being named to nine All-Defensive First Teams. LeBron has already been named to five.

• Jordan won two Olympic gold medals. LeBron has also won two.

• Jordan was a 14-time All-Star. LeBron nine (and counting).

• Jordan has five MVP awards. LeBron already has four.

• Jordan was named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times. LeBron has been on seven so far.

So how can we decide? Barring injury, one area that will eventually differentiate the two is longevity. While Jordan retired at age 30 to play baseball (and again after winning his 6th NBA title), James seems hell-bent on dedicating his life to basketball.

Because LeBron is in such great physical condition and entered the league at such a young age, he should be able to play at a high level for another 10 years. Assuming he does and those numbers mirror what he’s done during his first decade in the league, here are his projected stats if he walks away from the game at 38-years old:

42,162 pts, 11,106 rebs, 10,604 assts

That is a very impressive line to say the least. Heading into the 2013-14 NBA season, those numbers would rank him #1 all-time in scoring, #27 all-time in total rebounds and #3 all-time in assists. For comparison sake, here is Jordan’s career stat line:

32,292 pts, 6,672 rebs, 5,633 assts

Keep in mind that Jordan’s numbers are from just 15 NBA seasons (including one injury-shortened, one partial year after coming out retirement and two in the twilight of his career with the Washington Wizards).

Surprised me. What say you? LeBron better? Only championships matter? (Sorry Charles Barkley).

"You just need to go at that shit wide open, hang on, and own it." —Camp

campgottagopee

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

Between those two I'd say hands down MJ. Lebron maybe someday, but maybe not either----time will tell

My all time pick would be Larry Bird. Gotta love a farm boy walk-on that totally gave 110% every game, every time.

MC2 5678F589

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by Harvey

I saw the argument that Jordan won championships with Pippen, Horace Grant, Rodman for a while, and a bunch of relative no names - Paxton, Steve Kerr, Bill Cartwright. Whereas LeBron has Dwayne Wade, Ray Allen - guys who were stars of championship teams. I don't know if that's a great argument (LeBron made it to the finals with a horrible Cleveland team). But it's definitely a point.

Regardless, I think LeBron's best attribute (besides the fact that he's better, stronger and quicker than most of the league) is that he makes the players around him better. Jordan just seemed like he could score whenever he wanted. With LeBron, you don't know whether he's going to make a great shot or a great pass.

Also, Kareem, Wilt and Doctor J were pretty good players if you want to go back in time.

warp daddy

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

OK you wanna talk history , lets talk about pre expansion when ONLY the VERY best ballplayers were in the league BECAUSE there were only 6 teams and the CELTICS dominated as matter of fact BOB COUSY won 6 championships back BEFORE the NBA was WATERED down by expansion and then watered down EVEN more with the inclusion of the old ABA .

yeah i am an old fart but there are so many guys that are in the so called pros now that would NEVER have made the cut back when you actually had to have skill other than "alley ball" or playground style NO defense and 24 second clocks to pump up running and gunning . People HAD to make fouls shots , HAD to be two way stars not specialists and had to put in a full day on the court WITHOUT the insufferable egotism and lack of class that often CONTAMINATES the game today ..Just Sayin

back it was notalley ball but basketball!

Life ain't a dress rehearsal: Spread enthusiasm , avoid negative nuts.

campgottagopee

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

warp daddy wrote

OK you wanna talk history , lets talk about pre expansion when ONLY the VERY best ballplayers were in the league BECAUSE there were only 6 teams and the CELTICS dominated as matter of fact BOB COUSY won 6 championships back BEFORE the NBA was WATERED down by expansion and then watered down EVEN more with the inclusion of the old ABA .

yeah i am an old fart but there are so many guys that are in the so called pros now that would NEVER have made the cut back when you actually had to have skill other than "alley ball" or playground style NO defense and 24 second clocks to pump up running and gunning . People HAD to make fouls shots , HAD to be two way stars not specialists and had to put in a full day on the court WITHOUT the insufferable egotism and lack of class that often CONTAMINATES the game today ..Just Sayin

back it was notalley ball but basketball!

BOOM!

MC2 5678F589

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by warp daddy

As a counter argument to Bob Cousy, I say that basketball with no shot clock, all white guys, no dunking, lots of foul shots, and short shorts was boring and stupid.

DrSkimeister

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

Jerry West

just happens to have been a Mountaineer....

It's funny how fallin' feels like flyin', even for a little while

MC2 5678F589

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

It's time to change that NBA logo to the iconic Air Jordan pose.

warp daddy

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by DrSkimeister

Doc : Ole Zeke from Cabin Creek was one of absolute FINEST examples of two skills and attitude . "Number 44 in your program BUT number ONE in yer heart " he was a COMPLETE player not a role player and the UNIs in thise days were far superior to these damn GHETTO bangers they wear today ;)

Life ain't a dress rehearsal: Spread enthusiasm , avoid negative nuts.

Noah John

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

warp daddy wrote

Doc : Ole Zeke from Cabin Creek was one of absolute FINEST examples of two skills and attitude . "Number 44 in your program BUT number ONE in yer heart " he was a COMPLETE player not a role player and the UNIs in thise days were far superior to these damn GHETTO bangers they wear today ;)

You sound old, white and angry. Tea Party much?

Harvey

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

Administrator

In reply to this post by MC2 5678F589

I say go to this one:

(I do miss the pony tail tho).

"You just need to go at that shit wide open, hang on, and own it." —Camp

MC2 5678F589

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by Noah John

Noah John wrote

You sound old, white and angry. Tea Party much?

Seriously. I had a vague sense of that in his first post with the "lack of class" and "alleybangers". But then he just went full racist with the all caps "ghetto" blast.

Love your uplifting posts elsewhere, Warp, but maybe dial back the racism a touch when it comes to the NBA. Keep it positive.

campgottagopee

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

mattchuck2 wrote

Noah John wrote

You sound old, white and angry. Tea Party much?

Seriously. I had a vague sense of that in his first post with the "lack of class" and "alleybangers". But then he just went full racist with the all caps "ghetto" blast.

Love your uplifting posts elsewhere, Warp, but maybe dial back the racism a touch when it comes to the NBA. Keep it positive.

Racism?!?!?! Please.....didn't you see the " (; " attached in his post?? Me thinks not.

campgottagopee

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by MC2 5678F589

mattchuck2 wrote

As a counter argument to Bob Cousy, I say that basketball with no shot clock, all white guys, no dunking, lots of foul shots, and short shorts was boring and stupid.

I'm old enough to of played organized hoops the way your describing. No shot clock was key as it made us play D, something that, IMO, is completely lacking from the sport today. We had black dudes. Dunking was against the rules in warm ups, but was allowed in the game. Short shorts??? Nobody new any bettter

Stupid???? You actually had to have some smarts back in those days ---- we ran plays and everything!!! Not like todays park ball.

All that said, todays game sure is exciting to watch. Just wish they play some damn D other than in the playoffs.

warp daddy

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

Nope politically Liberal my man , not angry at all very HAPPY , very content and damn sure better adjusted than most ;) and as a former college hoops coach my experience with the game is pretty diversified .

Life ain't a dress rehearsal: Spread enthusiasm , avoid negative nuts.

MC2 5678F589

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by campgottagopee

campgottagopee wrote

Please.....didn't you see the " (; " attached in his post?? Me thinks not.

Haha. So I can say whatever I want, and then put a winky face after it and it's okay? Okay....

Actually in that instance the winky face was probably more of a "If you know what I mean" sort of thing. As in, "boy, the NBA was a lot better before all of the GHETTO influence IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN".

If you want to make your points, make them, but don't say it's because of all these disrespectful ghetto gang bangers or whatever racial code words you want to use.

warp daddy

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by warp daddy

Didnt see the racism charge ... Quite laffable ,

As a player myself i had several AA teammates
As a college coach i had several outstanding AA players , many of whom were captains of my teams and went on to achieve great careers in their professions .
My own extended family includes a rich mosaic of multiple ethnicities .

All that said u r entitled to your opinions even though you seem to reading way too much and dealing at some level of absurd abstraction . sorry if my comments offended your sensitivites , rest assured that was never my intention BUT that said i stand by my commentery . The game has morphed and not necessarily for the better in terms of breath of player skills and attitudes .

I.m done :)

Life ain't a dress rehearsal: Spread enthusiasm , avoid negative nuts.

tjf1967

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by MC2 5678F589

I think we should wait till Lebron playing days are over. At this point he is not better than MJ on his way sure but he still has a long way to go.

And if you are Judging by how many trophies' would Bill Russell win hands down?

Campi in short shorts. I puked a little.

warp daddy

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

Big Russ ( Bill Russell) was a game changer , the man WAS defense and the reason the Celtics fast break was the class of the league . Epic battles between he and Wilt were fun to watch AND Russell MADE his foul shots

something the Stilt never did .

Life ain't a dress rehearsal: Spread enthusiasm , avoid negative nuts.

Noah John

Re: NBA's Greatest: MJ or LeBron?

In reply to this post by tjf1967

I didn't really see any racism in any of that. I just think old dudes, regardless of their ideological leanings, tend to sound sort of put-upon or defensive when they talk about most things new. I think if you're not careful you can sound marginalized and ornery.