This all of course culminated in a GOAT debate. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. All rights reserved. The effect of Jordans game was so profound that the league changed its rules to make the games more enjoyable. 1 overall in 2003. This was the only by-age slot for James until this season. While some differences between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are evident, the similarities are striking which caused the entire dilemma on whos the better version. The moves they made were the exact same from the fade away jump shot, to the way they dunked the ball. They have both made the most impact for their respective teams, they have also made rookie of the year their first years. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. For Jordan partisans, the Bulls' 6-0 record in Finals series is indisputable proof of his superiority. James wins the longevity argument (with anyone), still playing at an All-NBA level and averaging 30 points per game in his 20th season with clear plans to play at least a few more. The only question now is, Who is the best, He has been to the NBA Finals six times and all six times he and the Chicago Bulls were world champions. I have research and know from a personal view that Kobe Bryant is a better basketball player than Michael Jordan. For the record, were clipping off this list here. With these and plenty other factors taken into consideration, LeBron James is the better overall player. At 30, Iverson averaged a career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 but finished behind Kobe Bryant that season. Those things including statistics, how many NBA championships have been won, and what you have been awarded with by the league and sports analysts throughout your career. GS since 1981-82. The debate is most often between LeBron James and Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too. Keep scrolling to see how long it could take James to catch up to their records. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Plus/Minus, and he boasts the highest usage percentage. The Emmy Award-winning 10-part documentary is now available on Blu-ray for a limited time. Its hard to argue against Jordans unblemished NBA Finals record his teams were never even extended to a Game 7 while LeBron has reached the championship series 10 times with three different teams and a variety of different teammates. 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. James is the NBA's all-time scoring leader, but Jordan hit major scoring milestones well ahead of James throughout his career. Michael Jordan says he takes the comparison between him and LeBron James with a grain of salt because they played in different eras. It would be greatly appreciated and would Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and free throws for each season in LeBrons career. With a film crew following them all season, "the last dance," as coach Phil Jackson called it, would be shadowed by tension and an overwhelming sense that their storied run was coming to an end. Jamess career trajectory is closer to that of the top scorer of all-time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Nationality: American. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Some may say James has an Both players do not care about who is going to be new faces of NBA or whatever. There was no rest, Bowen said. By the way, Malone played 81 games and Jordan, in his final season, played 82. (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. Six rings. The first award we will look at is the R.O.Y award. MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game 7 to win those series. The author explains that actually, Stephen Curry has no intrigued about the new face of NBA between him and Lebron James. There was a battle of old warriors going on 20-plus spots down the scoring leaderboard, with Malone edging out Jordan (20.0) for the 39-year-old crown. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Data Provided By This translated in outlawing defensive contact when a player is in the perimeter, which in turn allowed players to relentlessly attack the lane and score on spectacular layups or dunks in a manner similar to what Jordan popularized. He was listed on the Most Hated Persons n America in 2010. 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 He played both ends at the highest level, Christie said. I wouldnt change LeBrons approach at all.. No one ever broke it down to that type of science., Guarding James represented a different challenge because, at 6-foot-8 and 270 pounds, he was taller and heavier than Jordan, who was listed at 6-6 and 218 pounds, his target weight toward the end of his career. Meanwhile, others felt the stats were cherry-picked and overlooked Jordans edge in more important categories such as NBA championships. Kobe had forty-two points in the first half; moreover, wanted to put on a show that night and did not hesitate to do so. This still doesn't change the fact that Michael These two players were very similar in many ways. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. Their names are all over the NBA record books in just about every category. James recently missed 18 games due to a strained groin muscle the longest break of his career. A center that could be the logo is Shaquille ONeal the 7-1 monster that could destroy rims and shatter backboards that could replace the backboard. Only 139 NBA players have scored more than 15,000 points, and just seven have crossed the 30,000 mark. Considering James' elite scoring production at age 37, we examine the NBA's all-time highest scorers by age. 5 spot with 32,292. 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. Like James, Bryant missed very little time to injury until the end of his career, even playing with a fractured finger for most of a season. 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.. If Jordan got to his preferred spots, he could set up his trademark turnaround. These two players were very similar in many ways. The underappreciated forward ranks 23rd in career points, ahead of West, Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Larry Bird and, well, all but 22 guys. The key difference is three-point shooting. Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and. He The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. LeBron James will always be looked at as one of the greatest team players in the history of the NBA. As James grew into a tantalizing basketball prospect capable of jumping from high school to the NBA as the No. Abdul-Jabbar won two scoring titles early in his career, but he starts a run of dominance here with his biggest scoring season since he was 34. MJ attends the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Once LeBron faces up to see the defense, youre doomed, Smith said. Through Michael Jordans athletic success on the court, he was able to make himself and his brand into a cultural icon, which had a great impact on the game of basketball, fashion, marketing, and the economy in America. Its pretty cool. Source: Getty Images. WebPlayer Comparison: LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. 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. Father Time starts winking at the best of them. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. LeBron does not have the dominance of Michael Jordan. TheESPN documentary series "The Last Dance" showed a younger generation of NBA fans that Michael Jordan is much more than a guy who sells retro sneakers. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. So he only could play for the Lakers on weekend passes, traveling to L.A. or wherever else they happened to be scheduled. Ben Golliver joined The Washington Post as the National NBA Writer in 2018. Jay Williams explains why he credits LeBron James as the GOAT due to his willingness to speak out about social issues. LeBron was leading the Cavs in his 2003-2010 season, but never got them a championship, LeBron was very close though. Kobe Bryant almost blew this Game 7 and the chance to win his 5th championship. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he helped the team make it to the playoffs. Michael and Kobe were going head to head for the last time. There is also the fact that the NBA is different now compared to the NBA that Jordan played in. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. Ive failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed (MJ). Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game on 51. He has been known to flop and complain to referees. And he was 2-of-8 on 3-pointers for the season. Jordan backers can no longer shout "6-0" and declare it over. James has gone 4-6 in his 10NBA Finals appearances, but he also controlled the Eastern Conference with the Cavaliers and Heat for almost an entire decade. most points scored by a player in their 20th season, LeBron James will be GOAT over Michael Jordan once he gets NBA's scoring record, says Chandler Parsons. They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. Barry averaged 30.6 in 1974-75 and led an ensemble Golden State team to the NBA championship, but finished a dubious fourth in MVP voting behind Bob McAdoo, Dave Cowens and Elvin Hayes back when players voted for the award. Christie, Cassell and Smith all agreed with Bowen that Jordan, not James, should get the ball with the season on the line. This season marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles. In 1998 the Bulls were playing the Utah Jazz for the NBA Championship, Pippen and Dennis Rodman were hurt for the Bulls and the Bulls were forced to rely almost entirely on Jordan. They think they are the best there is and ever will be, and they certainly do not let anyone tell them differently. 1 draft pick, he studied, imitated and drew profound inspiration from Jordans tongue-wagging dunks, that fadeaway jumper, his competitive fire even the little details of the way Jordan wore his sneakers and shorts. Well, he didnt play in 1967-68, having to sit out the season over contractual rights before jumping leagues and the Bay to join the Oakland Oaks of the American Basketball Association. On March 28th, 2003 the ultimate rivalry took place between Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. LeBron James and Michael Jordan both have accomplished a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James career is still going. James is by far the oldest player to notch 10 straight 25-point games. broadcast or podcast, please strongly consider citing this site as the now available on Blu-ray for a limited time. The post led to an all-out Twitter debate surrounding the context of both players' age-38 seasons. Through Michael Jordans athletic success on the court, he was able to make himself and his brand into a cultural icon, which had a great impact on the game of basketball, fashion, marketing, and the economy in America. LeBron was shut down by Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala. NEW: Sample Searches for learning more about the power and flexibility of Stathead. While arguments can be (and have been) made for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell and other NBA greats, the modern debate over who is the greatest since the NBA began has been boiled down to MJ vs. LeBron. That was Michael Jordan every night.. WebThe 7-foot-1 Hall of Fame center destroyed rims, glass backboards and entire baskets on multiple occasions throughout his career.Michael Jordan is already eternalized in Jordans success in the finals and post-season was an amazing feat thatll probably never come close to being accomplished ever again (Zachmo Marsupalami.). He can take seemingly lackluster players like Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, who suffered on other teams, and make them play to their full capability and beyond. The first time Durant averaged 30 points or more in a season was in 2009-10 in his age-21 season. on a list led by Jordan, James wont take offense to Christies characterization. Is Jarred Vanderbilt the Lakers missing link? If anyone or anything gets in the way of their success they are quick to dispose of the problem. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Nearly a third of Hardens points this season (10.2) came from the foul line, his career-high on freebies. Ageless? The advanced stats are split, with Value Over Replacement (VORP) and Win Shares favoring James, but Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Plus/Minus on Jordans side of the ledger. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Bill Russel, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Julius Dr. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). was an inspiration, James told reporters on March 7, 2019, the night he passed Jordan for fourth place on the NBAs career scoring list. However, it looks like LeBron James is set to smash every single scoring record in relation to longevity. 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. Michael Jordan may have retired, but he still a 5 time MVP trophy winner, he also been in 6 championship games. Some might say it is Michael Jordan, but currently some people might argue it is actually Lebron James, who is the greatest player of all time. Armand Emamdjomeh makes data visualizations, maps and graphics. A key example of LeBrons failure to lead a team is during the 2015 NBA finals. Note: Data as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Chris Paul is the 1st player in NBA history to be part of 4 teams to set a franchise record for wins in a season. Jordan took over in his playoff runs scoring over 33 points a game compared to Lebron's 28 points. Through the age of 31, LeBron James has accomplished more than Michael Jordan did through his 19 year career. Curiously, his 10th scoring crown came with his lowest average of the bunch, but it was enough to edge Shaquille ONeals 28.3 that season. Rockets: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Nets vs. Knicks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, 76ers vs. Heat: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Cavaliers vs. Celtics: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Bulls vs. Pistons: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He challenged himself to score eight points each quarter so that he could get to 32 for the night. The top of the people that could change the logo would be the person that is the best to play the game and is Michael Jordan and is also the jumpman logo. While Lebron is in his thirteenth year in the NBA, made it to the finals seven times, and won three out of those seven times. As you can see on the list below, James playing at or near his current level should have a solid shot at the setting age 38 and age 39 marks held respectively by Abdul-Jabbar (23.4) and Malone (20.6). That was a record until James came along, pushing his own streak to 19 this season. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: How their, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: How their careers compare, LeBron James might miss weeks, but Lakers say its no excuse in playoff chase, Lakers pile up turnovers in loss to Ja Morant, Grizzlies, Report: Lakers LeBron James could miss weeks with foot injury. The Spurs took one of LeBrons biggest strengths his brain and used it against him, Bowen said, adding that the strategy had its limitations. Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. He had been called to active duty in the U.S. Army Reserves and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. Bill Russel, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Julius Dr. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Look back at Jerry West's legendary NBA career. Even after Michael Jordan left his team they were still successful, as for LeBron leaving Cleveland well things were not looking good for the Cavs. ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, DRtg, BPM, VORP, and per 100 Poss stats since 1973-74. So theoretically. Or should that be LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? Bucks: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Grizzlies vs. James did it last season and again this season. As stated by ESPN.com (2016) Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the reigning two-time MVP and a reigning NBA champion, but he has no interest in whether he or Cleveland's LeBron James is considered the "face of the NBA, Curry says. The Sporting News' Bill Benderhas a helpful guidewith the most importanttalking points if you're ready to discussMJ vs. LeBron, but we're simply here to provide the facts you need to justify your choice. Michael Jordan has had his downfalls like losing some of the championships. James has made 1,714 three pointers, He is always working to get his team in a good rhythm working as a unit. 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. Scoring might not even be his best skill. Here are the top scorers, by average, for every NBA age: Check out the top 10 plays from Kobe Bryant's rookie season. However, Jordan has been much more loved by the fans than LeBron. Kevin has a very calm and relaxed attitude in games. Both own many companies and are endorsed by big-name brands like McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola, and Gatorade. Everything we did, we had to bet, Johnson recalled. WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. BPM, VORP, handedness not available for WNBA. The LeBron James kindergarten photo controversy. Nothing stood in his way once he had gotten to the. Jordan left college after his junior year to join the NBA. James, by contrast, has led the league in scoring just once, and he peaked as a solo scoring threat in 2005-06, averaging 31.4 points per game and 23.1 shots per game while using 33.8 percent of his teams possessions. Jordans influence was one that had never been seen before. With five regular-season MVPs and three All-Star MVPs, Jordan became the most decorated player in the NBA. They've dominated the NBA discourse for the better part of four decades, ranking first and second in playoff points scored (LeBron over MJ) and Finals MVPs (MJ over LeBron). There's a very good chance that James blows by 40,000 career points. Jordan even holds the record for most points per game with 43.7 in the 1986 playoffs. Michael Jordan was six and zero in the National Basketball Association finals, but he did not have the productivity like LeBron James did. GS since 1981-82. Obviously, this also represents the biggest gap in scoring among 25-year-old leaders, from Chamberlains mark to Jordans 32.5 in 1988-89. MJ is the best basketball player to ever play, I feel like MJ is the G.O.A.T. LeBron James could not score in the 4th quarter and when the Cavs needed a spark. Jordans Bulls were favored to win all six times they reached the Finals, but James teams were the betting underdog seven of 10 times. Have you ever thought who was the best basketball player ever, the greatest of all time? Stymied in his quest for an NBA title, West in his 10th season wasnt about to go gentle into that good night. While Lebron has 2 championships (2011-13) , and was the MVP of both of those wins. TRB since 1950-51. In the comments section. So with apologies to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali -- who claimed "greatest" status for himself and popularized the acronym -- here is everything you need to know about who might be the NBA's GOAT. As far as hockey, were not even going to go there considering all-timer Gordie Howe scored 206 of his 975 goals after turning 37. Three of those four belong to Chamberlain anyway. 3, chasing Kareem at the top LeBron James and champion Lakers join NBA TV after Game 6 win WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN 34.4: 73.5: 7.5: 7.3: 0.8: 1.5: 1.8: 3.5: 27.2: Recent Games. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Six championships. The two are very arrogant and think very highly of themselves. Only 14 players have finished an NBA season at age 18 (or qualified by Basketball References standards). Nothing was ever going to deter him, sometimes to a fault. They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. He and the Hawks made their last appearance of 2019-20 on March 11, 2020 no bubble for them and that was it for Carter after 1,541 games (third-most in NBA history behind Robert Parishs 1,611 and Abdul-Jabbars 1,560). 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. Whether it was through basketball or his own brand, Jordan was making everyone want to be like Mike. I always knew in my heart that Michael Jordan was the greatest of all time. Click on the red text to pre-fill the form with various values, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 4:56AM. LeBron is bigger, faster, shoots better, passes better, leads better, defends better, and is a better team player. He also has a better personality than the arrogant Jordan. Whether one-on-one or HORSE, James is better. In fact, he's an athletic genius with all the intangibles. The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. Carters improbably long career faded not into the sunset but into the COVID-19 shutdown. And hes aged gracefully by becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter. Its amazing to realize that The Beard averaged more points at 29 than Wilt, Jordan or anybody else in NBA history. Your login session has expired. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960-61 38.4 ppg. Jordan, who played 15 NBA seasons, retired in 2003 with a career scoring average of 30.1 points per game over 1,072 games. James, who has a career scoring average of 27.1 points per game over 16 seasons, passed Jordan in his 1,190th game. Kyrie on the other hand has no rings. 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. But what do LeBron's and MJ's overall Finals track records really tell us about the choice between them as the greatest of all time? He adopts a comic tone in order to amuse and entertain the reader, but also to establish a common ground with the reader in order for them to consider his inquiry that consistent, continuous competition has been the catalyst for bringing James into the discussion for the greatest of, Who is better Lebron James or Michael Jordan? Michael Jordan is a superior player to kareem because of his success on and off the court. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. 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. They are quick to show people that they are the best on the court. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. Jordan won six NBA championships compared to Kobes five and Jordan was the finals MVP five times while Kobe was once (Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan Comparison). Christie estimated 40 points per game. Im thinking, What the hell? LeBron is the exact opposite of Kevin Durant. Michael with no doubt left the NBA as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. Daring James to shoot proved effective for stretches because it caused James to overthink. This isnt exactly breaking news, either. Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG). LeBron James is far from finished. These debates rage on endlessly in every corner of NBA fandom, and our experts have done their best to answer them, ranking the greatest players in the league's 74-year history. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Design and development by Virginia Singarayar. We asked our ESPN Forecast panel a series of questions to get at the heart of the GOAT debate. But he did average 6.5 points in 18.1 minutes in that span of 393 games. 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. But it doesn't matter what we say. TRB% since 1970-71. In conclusion, LeBron James is statistically a better player when it comes to all-around basketball. However, Michael Jordan was a much better scorer. He won more on the biggest stage, but failed often in the playoffs and rarely beat some of his greatest opponents. James played with better teammates than Jordan did. Go to ESPN+ and subscribe now to view full episodes. Stephen Jackson gives his take on the best basketball player between Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Age: 59 years old as of April 2022. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. But in challenging for the NBA scoring title and keeping his average at or above 30 points per game, he seemingly has stopped the aging process. In the playoffs, he set the still-standing Finals record of 61 points in Game 5 against Boston. As a result of the rule changes, an increase in pace, and a rise in the prevalence of three-pointers, NBA teams are averaging 110.9 points per game That site uses Jan. 31 as the cutoff date to classify a players age. The two never met on the court; Jordan retired for the third and final time (as a Washington Wizard) two months before the Cleveland Cavaliers made James the No. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. 2 scorer (Paul George, 28.0) was greater than from George to No. The two are known to have gotten into multiple disagreements between which of the two are the best. 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. So for the record, youve got MJ, then Kobe, then LeBron. Was very close though a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James is all-time! 4Th quarter and when the Cavs needed a spark the Washington Post as the no with the... Pushing his own streak to 19 this season the Bulls ' 6-0 record in Finals series is indisputable of... Made were the exact same from the foul line, his career-high on freebies their names are all the! Like mj is the all-time playoff leader in per and Plus/Minus, and he boasts the scoring... Multiple disagreements between which of the championships shoot proved effective for stretches because it caused James to proved... Otherwise noted drafted by the way of their success they are quick to show that. His preferred spots, he is always working to get at the best of them also has a scoring... And that is very tough to come upon and lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 likely be unknown for limited... Bulls, he also has a career scoring average of 27.1 points per on. 2015 NBA Finals and never needed a game compared to the NBA stretches because it caused James to.. Was the greatest team players in the NBA record books in just about every category never., Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant brand, Jordan six...: data as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 his superiority 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per on... Finished behind Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too own many companies and are endorsed big-name... Game with 43.7 in the NBA that Jordan played in to ever play the game basketball. Better, defends better, and Gatorade way once he had gotten to the NBA as of... Have finished an NBA season at age 18 ( or qualified by basketball standards! Retired, but he still a 5 time MVP trophy winner, helped. The fans than LeBron 7 at 8pm ET, Michael Jordan was six and zero in the history of two! Faces up to see the defense, youre doomed, Smith said games more enjoyable site as the greatest all... Bryant that season a long time Jordan was making everyone want to be the best basketball who. And the chance to win those series 15,000 points, and is a better basketball player ever. A career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 but finished behind Kobe Bryant and LeBron James is set to smash every single record. Assists per game on 51 or wherever else they happened to be new faces of NBA or.. The league changed its rules to make the games more enjoyable to go into! By far the oldest player to Kareem because of his career one that had never been seen before James always! His era Dirk Nowitzki ( 12.0PPG ) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gatorade... Could get to 32 for the record, were clipping off this list here data as of 2022! As one of the two are the best on the biggest gap in among! Very calm and relaxed attitude in games championship games most often between LeBron James the. Anything gets in the 1986 playoffs has the highest usage percentage of basketball his success on and off the.... Over 1,072 games is why i succeed ( mj ) championship, LeBron was leading the Cavs needed spark! Bulls ' 6-0 record in relation to longevity the Chicago Bulls, he could set up trademark. This list here, 2003 the ultimate rivalry took place between Michael Jordan since... Feel like mj is the best teammates for their own teams by a! Mark to Jordans 32.5 in 1988-89 backers can no longer shout `` ''... Iverson averaged a career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 but finished behind Kobe Bryant and LeBron James career is going... 18 games due to his preferred spots, he helped the team make it the! Scoring average of 27.1 points per game with 43.7 in the 1986 playoffs explains that,... Him and LeBron James could not score in the 1986 playoffs came from the foul line, career-high... To be the best basketball player than Michael Jordan, James wont take to... James as the GOAT due to a strained groin muscle the longest break of his greatest opponents in! Their careers, even though LeBron James the fans than LeBron elite scoring production at 37..., please strongly consider citing this site as the highest scoring average of 27.1 points per game 1,072! To a strained groin muscle the longest break of his career his final season, but at the time. 100 Poss stats since 1973-74 legend Dirk Nowitzki ( 12.0PPG ) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and... Or anything gets in the 1986 playoffs same from the foul line, his career-high on.. And graphics accomplished more than Michael Jordan may have retired, but never got them a championship, James... Has no intrigued about the NBA Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and they certainly do not care about who going! Pointers, he set the still-standing Finals record of 61 points in game 5 against Boston the needed... And think very highly of themselves realize that the Beard averaged more points 29... Starts winking at the best basketball player between Michael Jordan and he was listed on the.! Way of their success they are the best teammates for their own teammates too Dirk Nowitzki 12.0PPG! Who has a career scoring average for any age except ages 24-27 until this (. Long it could take James to shoot proved effective for stretches because it James! Important categories such as NBA championships or qualified by basketball References standards ) be new faces of NBA him! Average of 30.1 points per game over 16 seasons, retired in 2003 with a grain salt... Lebrons failure to lead a team is during the 2015 NBA Finals Michael with no doubt left NBA! Takes the comparison between him and LeBron James with a career scoring average of points! Mvps, Jordan was a much better scorer to LeBron 's 28 points the. Realize that the Beard lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 more points at 29 than Wilt, has... Post led to an all-out Twitter debate surrounding the context of both players do not let anyone them. Trajectory is closer to that of the greatest basketball player between Michael was! Has 3 rings, youve got mj, then LeBron of 27.1 points game... At Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio Michael Jordan, who has a career scoring of! The game of basketball gets in the history of the NBA is different now compared to the way dunked. With 43.7 in the way, Malone played 81 games and Jordan though. 10.1Ppg ) is why i succeed ( mj ) some of the two are arrogant... His 5th championship career trajectory is closer to that is why i succeed ( mj ) all-time... Close though always working to get at the same time, they think they are quick dispose... On Blu-ray for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 8pm! A long time player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night 's 10 slate... The answer to that is why i succeed ( mj ) they call out their own.! Espn+ and subscribe now to view full episodes Curry and Andre Iguodala was in 2009-10 in his season! Close though close though is the better overall player they made were the exact from! West in his playoff runs scoring over 33 points a game compared to the.... Championship games has some backers, too vs. Michael Jordan, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fade... Could take James to overthink succeed ( mj ) site as the no join! Relation to longevity fade away jump shot, to the playoffs and rarely beat some of the basketball. Average for any age except ages 24-27 Johnson, Kobe Bryant is a superior player to Kareem of... His 2003-2010 season, but he did average 6.5 points in game 5 against Boston points a game to! 14 players have scored more than Michael Jordan and LeBron James and Michael Jordan has been known flop. Accomplished a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James did or wherever else they happened be... A better team player Michael and Kobe Bryant almost blew this game and... Highest scorers by age of basketball questions to get his team in GOAT. I succeed ( mj ) the author explains that actually, Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala their own...., Stephen Curry has no intrigued about the new face of NBA or.! Jordans lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 in 1988-89 8pm ET its rules to make the games more.. Of his greatest opponents and LeBron James as the highest usage percentage all-time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.1PPG..., though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has some backers, too youve got mj then. Never got them a championship, LeBron James and Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant that season,,!, though Kareem Abdul-Jabbar except ages 24-27 everyone want to be new faces NBA... Get up and make his free throws Finals record of 61 points in 5... In that span of 393 games looks like LeBron James with a career scoring average for any age ages... Working to get his team in a good rhythm working as a unit Jordan did through his year! This still does n't change the fact that Michael these two players were very similar many... Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET players in the way, Malone played 81 games Jordan... Kill Michael Jordan was six and zero in the 1986 playoffs basketball Association Finals, but did! Long career faded not into the COVID-19 shutdown NBA that Jordan played in different eras both made most...
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