Greatest Rivals - LeBron James vs Michael Jordan

 Welcome to Greatest Rivals!

Each Wednesday, this page will pitch two great rivals against each other to finally find out who the real winner is! Over the coming weeks, this page will cover many great rivalries, from the glory of el Clasico to the back and forth action of some of Wimbledon's finest performers. 

In order to determine a winner, each rivalry will be split into 2 categories: Statistical dominance and individual or team success. In case of a draw, the winner will then be elected from personal opinion. 

Wednesday 17th February - LeBron James vs Michael Jordan 

Okay, let's do this. The LeBron vs Jordan debate is one of the most polarizing sports debates in recent history and the answer is generally decided by what era you were brought up in. Old-timers who grew up watching Jordan destroy the likes of Magic Johnson and Karl Malone will undoubtedly place him higher than LeBron, just because they were their childhood hero. Thankfully, the script has flipped for those who have grown up watching LeBron, who began his meteoric rise to greatness in 2003 and has rarely looked back. But who is truly better? 

By the end of his career, (which by the looks of it could end anywhere between 2025 - 2100) LeBron James will statistically be the best basketball player ever. He has already risen up to the top 3 on most all-time lists including scoring (3rd) and field goals made (3rd), whilst having career averages of 27 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. Comparatively, in a career that endured 3 retirements over 15 seasons, Jordan still makes appearances in the top 10 of most all-time lists and had career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. 

There is no doubt in my mind, that Jordan is much more offensively talented than LeBron, a statement that he can back up with 10 scoring titles to LeBron's one. In fact, I would say that in any 1v1 situation, Jordan is the best basketball player ever. Period. But when the ball isn't in his hand, this is where LeBron starts to make a name for himself. Due to his superior height and strength, LeBron is able to cause a more physical problem for defenders and cause them to collapse through sheer brutality. This then opens up passing lanes for team-mates and it's no secret than LeBron has spectacular court vision, which will him to climb the all-time assist ladder as he ventures deeper into his career.  

Furthermore, not only is LeBron a better athlete (on paper), but also a statistically better winner when it comes to the regular season. Over 17 years in the NBA, LeBron has won 66.4% of his games. Jordan won 65.9% of his with Chicago and Washington. 

But honestly, who cares about that? The playoffs are where true greatness defines itself and where champions are crowned. For Jordan, this is one coronation that can never be taken away. He holds a 66% win record throughout his 179 appearances in the playoffs, and most notably led 6 NBA titles in Chicago from 1991-1998; winning a Finals MVP on each occasion and remaining undefeated. It's a slightly different story for LeBron who despite appearing in the NBA Finals on 9 occasions only possesses 4 NBA Championships and a playoff win record of 65%. It's not bad. But when compared against Jordan, it's downright laughable. 

I know the water is a little murky on this one, but when it comes down to it, LeBron has flourished in an age of basketball that is run by numbers and analytics and has benefited from a career of top of the line technology that will push him to become the most statistically dominant basketball player of all time. 

Statistical Dominance Winner: LeBron James 

When talking about sporting rivals that have competed in completely separate eras of the sport, there are a lot of variables that have to be discussed in order for any objective result to actually be reached. From 1990-1998, otherwise known as the Jordan era, the NBA was filled with smash-mouth basketball players who looked to score from inside 20 feet rather than bomb away from the 3-point line. His Airness was obviously suited to this style of play but still had to compete against a wide range of Hall of Fame athletes in his career that included Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler, and Charles Barkley. Despite this competition, Jordan won every major award throughout his career including 5 league MVP awards, 1 Defensive Player of the Year award (1987-1988), and Rookie of the Year (1984-1985). 

Since 2003, the NBA has seen a slow paradigm shift toward the 3-point shot and it's now a tool that runs and tortures NBA coaches and their players. For LeBron, this has both a blessing and a curse and has had a fluctuating 'love-hate' relationship from beyond the arc. In his 17 year reign, 'The King' has most notably won 3 season MVP award, titles in both scoring (2007-2008) and assists (2019-2020), and Rookie of the Year (2003). In his defence, the competition for awards has been fierce (to say the least) with the rise of future Hall of Famers such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant who dominated the NBA in their MVP seasons. 

Here is the bottom line. In his prime, Jordan was so dominant that he never let any other team get close to a championship. In fact, throughout all his championship-winning campaigns, Jordan only lost 26 playoff games out of a possible 168 and was never forced to a game 7 in the Finals. On the other hand, LeBron's so called 'dominance' has let 5 other franchises add a Championship banner to their rafters since his first MVP in 2009, and has lost the Finals on 6 occasions (a win percentage of 66% compared to Jordan's 100%).

Individual/Team Success Winner: Michael Jordan 

As far as Greatest Rivals articles go, this one is probably the toughest I've had to write. However, in my opinion, Michael Jordan is the winner here. 

Now, just before you bite my head off, let me explain. 

Michael Jordan was seemingly impossible to stop. He could score from anywhere at any time as well as providing some award-winning calibre defence. He was one of the planet's greatest winners of all time and launched the NBA image on the TV screens of basketball fans all over the world. He was and still is, the heart-beat of the NBA. 

LeBron James is a statisticians nightmare. No one in NBA history has been able to produce in every statistical category the way LeBron does and for that, he should be applauded. However, in a time of technological advancement and softer foul calling, LeBron has still been surpassed by others whilst in his supposed prime years. He has also had a better supporting cast in the likes of Ray Allen, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving who played their part in rescuing LeBron James from his plummeting Finals record, something that Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman ever had to do with Jordan. 

All in all, the head of any NBA fan will always pick LeBron James, the greatest stat stuffer there ever was. However, the heart will always pick Michael Jordan, the greatest NBA player there ever will be.