"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. Through the age of 31, LeBron James has accomplished more than Michael Jordan did through his 19 year career. If youre looking for a more legitimate, i.e., complete season, that would go to Dallas Luka Doncic, snagging the highest scoring average for a teenager at 21.1 while playing 72 games in 2018-19. When it comes to this debate, we'll let MJ and LeBron have the last word -- for now. ESPN.com once had an analytical piece headlined: Is LeBron breaking the aging curve? It was posted in December 2017. Should LeBron be listed No. He averaged 31.2 points in a career-high 42 minutes nightly. 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.. Jordan took over in his playoff runs scoring over 33 points a game compared to Lebron's 28 points. And here's the big one. Look back at Michael Jordan's legendary NBA career. That was too young for LeBron James, for Dwight Howard, for Amare Stoudemire. 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. For those who witnessed Jordan's excellence over the course of two three-peats with the Bulls, itreinforced the belief that he is the greatest player to ever touch the court. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG). As previously mentioned, James is currently averaging 30.2PPG in his 20th season. LeBron James or Michael Jordan. No matter what, they were both incredible athletes who could lead their team. Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins are split on Isiah Thomas' comment that LeBron James will surpass Michael Jordan as the game's greatest if he wins a fourth championship. Jordan had the drive and edge over his opponents to win games. The two are known to have gotten into multiple disagreements between which of the two are the best. After NBA legend Isiah Thomas says he'd take LeBron James over Michael Jordan, the SportsNation crew weighs in on the classic debate. Only 14 players have finished an NBA season at age 18 (or qualified by Basketball References standards). Even though Lebron and Jordan are compared a lot, many people still think Jordan would beat LeBron head to, They are both the heart of their teams and they are the ones their teams build around bringing players in that will help them and the team win. Pretty much. Michael Jordan may have retired, but he still a 5 time MVP trophy winner, he also been in 6 championship games. Some people way say Lebron James is the best player to play the over ichael jordan and people say he could be the person to change the logo to the. -- William C. Rhoden, LeBron and MJ in their own words through the years. 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. This season marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles. Not only does he need improvement his team needs it to. This was the only by-age slot for James until this season. They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. Age: 59 years old as of April 2022. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Kia MVP Ladder: Picture remains as hazy as ever, MVP Tracker: Embiid puts up massive numbers, Kia Rookie Ladder: An abundance of talent, As usual, Paul taking teams to new heights, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays and strategy for Feb. 28, Durant expected to make Suns debut Wednesday, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 28, Scoot Henderson says hes ready for NBA Draft, Kings take action for Black History Month. One of the reasons why Lebron can not be said to be better than Jordan is because of how many championships Michael has won compared to Lebron. MJ is the best basketball player to ever play, I feel like MJ is the G.O.A.T. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and. James would have to play in nearly 60 games at his current scoring pace to pass Kobe Bryant, at 33,543 points. 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. The effect of Jordans game was so profound that the league changed its rules to make the games more enjoyable. Stephen Jackson settles MJ-Kobe-LeBron GOAT debate, Stephen A.: LeBron can't be GOAT playing in NBA's softest era, Jordan: Comparison between LeBron and me will always be there, SC Featured: Jordan-LeBron debate tackled by Harvard and Yale (6:40), Everything you need to know about the NBA GOAT debate, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, Driven Giannis 'OK' if people take him for granted, Durant to debut for Suns on Wed. vs. Hornets, Pels say injured Zion progressing, set for imaging, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, NBA stars on why Nikola Jokic's prior awards shouldn't hurt 3-peat chances: 'He's playing like an MVP', 'Legendary': NBA Twitter sounds off for Lillard's historic night, West juggernauts loom, while East plots thicken: What we're watching for the NBA's stretch run, Waiver wire pickups: Look to Malik Monk, Kevon Looney. They both managed to have a killer mentality where winning was the number one priority, and health was just a second thought. LeBron James could not score in the 4th quarter and when the Cavs needed a spark. In terms of longevity, James holds a clear advantage. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. Ben Golliver joined The Washington Post as the National NBA Writer in 2018. The two are very confident in their abilities. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. NBA GOAT debate: Big questions on the greatest players ever. Michael with no doubt left the NBA as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. The debate between who the best basketball player of all time has been going on for many years. Of course, losing those seasons would have cost him 3,279 points off his total of 38,387. There are many reasons why Lebron can not be the better than Michael Jordan was. If LeBron James is not better than Michael Jordan he is just as good because of his career accomplishments, his statistical numbers, as well. 3, chasing Kareem at the top LeBron James and champion Lakers join NBA TV after Game 6 win How LeBron can top Jordan for GOAT status. 5 spot with 32,292. (Greatest of All Time). One reason is because of Jordans NBA finals stats. 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. Most of the players who criticize LeBron for passing instead of shooting, especially when its time to take the last shot, are speaking from their own abilities, not his. Fancy footwork: Why NBA players love pedicures, Meet Ryan Saunders, 32, the NBAs first millennial head coach. The top three point scorers Stathead: Baseball's Most Powerful Search Tool, Stathead: Basketball's Most Powerful Research Tool, Stathead: Football's Most Powerful Research Tool, Stathead: Hockey's Most Powerful Research Tool, Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. English, a second-round pick in 1976, had averaged 22.3 points across his first 14 seasons. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. At age 37, LeBron has scored 25 points in 10 consecutive games. So Karl Malone would have caught and passed him in 2003 before LeBron and reigned as the NBAs all-time points leader for 19 years until March 19 in Washington, when James would have taken over by reaching 36,929. 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. James has 28 career 40-point games in the playoffs and one 50-point game in the 2018 NBA Finals. Among 27-year-olds, Chamberlain (36.9 in 1963-64) and Bryant (35.4 in 2005-06) were too far behind Baylors pace. Karl Malone averaged 23.2 points at that age and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went for 22.0, and they were two of the most prolific graybeards in the games history. Malone had 43 double-doubles while leading Utah to 55 victories, with no one else on the roster averaging more than 14.1 points. LeBron James passes Michael Jordan in career field goals James now trails Wilt (12,681) for No. (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. The first award we will look at is the R.O.Y award. 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 Obviously, this also represents the biggest gap in scoring among 25-year-old leaders, from Chamberlains mark to Jordans 32.5 in 1988-89. After 15 years in the NBA, Jordan finished his career with 5,633 career assists, while after only 13 years in the. 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. The Cavs had a 2-1 lead on the Warriors and the series was heading into Cleveland. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. If LeBron James is not better than Michael Jordan he is just as good because of his career accomplishments, his statistical numbers, as well, Comparison Of Michael Jordan And Lebron James, Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? A statistical comparison reveals that peak Jordan dominated the ball more, shot more and scored far more than peak James. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Kobe plays the shooting guard position but can move anywhere around the perimeter, such as point guard, shooting guard, and small forward, coming in at 66 205 pounds. MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game 7 to win those series. Against that backdrop, maybe what LeBron James has done this season shouldnt seem so astonishing. 1 on his list of top NBA players of all time. 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. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. Basketball fan or basketball people have probably heard or had a strong discussion about who is a greater player: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James? 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