They are verbally aggressive and threaten people as they play. Here we are 12 years later, after his Achilles tear, and hes scoring at the same clip, only missing a few too many appearances to qualify among the official league leaguers. Date of birth: Feb 17, 1963. 3, chasing Kareem at the top LeBron James and champion Lakers join NBA TV after Game 6 win From there, James would have to play several more seasons to score the more than 3,000 points it would take to get within striking distance of Malone and Abdul-Jabbar. The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. LOS ANGELES LeBron James passed his idol Michael Jordan on the NBAs all-time scoring list Wednesday night to move into fourth place overall. Their goal was to dominate you. 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. 1 overall in 2003. Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. 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. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and free throws for the top five scorers, Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-. As many haters and doubters of LeBron James have stated before, he cant win when it counts or he chokes in the Finals or he tainted his championships by forming the big 3, you have to give credit where credit is due. 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? The Warriors dominated the series, winning four games to two. Many of the reasons why this decision can never be agreed on is because of many things. 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. Previously, he was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA. What about LeBron James? Kendrick Perkins ranks LeBron James as No. For James believers, his 10 Finals appearances are emblematic of LeBron's longer record of accomplishment. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. 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. Everything we did, we had to bet, Johnson recalled. , up dramatically from 95.1 points per game in 2002-03, Jordans final season and the last before James joined the league. This season marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles. Outside of James, the most points scored by a player in their 20th season is Lakers legend Kobe Bryant at 17.6PPG. Did you ever want to know who the greatest basketball player is? Of those, only LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki the sixth-highest scorer all time are still playing. Its been historical. LeBron also has 28 career playoff triple-doubles, while Jordan has two. It also gave him the bragging rights of five firsts and two seconds on this scoring-by-age chart. He was listed on the Most Hated Persons n America in 2010. Data Provided By The effect of Jordans game was so profound that the league changed its rules to make the games more enjoyable. For his efforts there, Jordan received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Dwyane Wade are among the current crop of players who have copied Jordans style, and they have to thank him because of the enormous popularity that he has brought to the game. Against that backdrop, maybe what LeBron James has done this season shouldnt seem so astonishing. The Lebron versus Kobe really got heated when Michael Jordan said he thinks Bryant is the better player due to his five championship, Although the stats do not lie, people still believe there is an argument to be made over who the greatest basketball player of all time is because of the number of championships won. Other younger players look as if they could also cross the 30,000-point threshold. Christie estimated 40 points per game. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960-61 38.4 ppg. If youre looking for legends, this is a tier that has them. Given the title Air-Jordan, winning dunk competitions, and bring joy to many fans watching his hunger for winning. When thinking of greatness in the realm of basketball, these two definitely come to mind. It was all identical but not the same(P//5). Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. And here's the big one. Nothing stood in his way once he had gotten to the. Per 36 minutes this season, his 15.2 scoring wasnt much off his 19.4 pro-rated rate nine years earlier. Once LeBron faces up to see the defense, youre doomed, Smith said. Jamess career trajectory is closer to that of the top scorer of all-time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At 34 and with three more seasons remaining on his current contract, James will next take aim at the three players ahead of him on the scoring list: Kobe Bryant (33,643 points), Karl Malone (36,928) and all-time leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387). A current star has complicated that GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation, of course. Are LeBron's four titles better than MJ's six? Curry posted the highest scoring season of his career the year after his hand injury limited him to five appearances in 2019-20. But what he did in his 15th set the standard for 35-year-olds. Their free throw output is very close; Jordan made 7,327 and LeBron has made 7,101. Bill Russells nemesis in their famous rivalry dropped off by nearly six points per game from the season before and still posted the second-highest scoring average in NBA history. The way Michael scored the basketball wasnt always good for his team. Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. 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. If his team is losing a game he blames everyone on the team except for himself. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. I have no idea how Ive been able to do it.. Among 27-year-olds, Chamberlain (36.9 in 1963-64) and Bryant (35.4 in 2005-06) were too far behind Baylors pace. LeBron James and Stephen Curry have put up ageless scoring numbers. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. Lebron or Kobe? They revolutionized the game and brought a standard to be met- Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Pretty much. The Emmy Award-winning 10-part documentary is now available on Blu-ray for a limited time. 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 These reasons listed all show how Michael Jordan is the best player of all time and Lebron is not. On your television. Each player only had one year to get this award, and Jordan was the one to get the rookie of the year (Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan Comparison). The LeBron James kindergarten photo controversy. Kobe Bryant wanted to show out Jordan himself by dropping a total of fifty-five points in the game. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. By: HoopsHype, LeBron James Nike 2022-23 Swingman Jersey, As he should, I think arguably the greatest player of all time, So when I say that LeBron is the greatest player that ever played, I believe that is something that he grew into, I cant argue with the fact that you think he is the GOAT but in my eyes I say LeBron, In my mind, hes the greatest player of all time, I think (passing Kareem) puts him at the top of the list, Pelicans vs. Blazers: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest, Magic vs. Maybe it's a matter of taste. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Kyrie on the other hand has no rings. Numerous endorsements, an acting career, and widespread humanitarianism are only a few of the features that comprise the man we know as Lebron James. LeBron James and Michael Jordan both have accomplished a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James career is still going. There are many factors that influence this decision whether it be their raw stats or their championship rings. And hes aged gracefully by becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter. Jordans Bulls were favored to win all six times they reached the Finals, but James teams were the betting underdog seven of 10 times. They are both are Hall of Famers, with a combined eight championship rings together and counting. 32. LeBron James will always be looked at as one of the greatest team players in the history of the NBA. But it doesn't matter what we say. After NBA legend Isiah Thomas says he'd take LeBron James over Michael Jordan, the SportsNation crew weighs in on the classic debate. J Irving are just a few of those with the careers to back this title. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. Bowen recalled how Jordan would bend into a Crouching Tiger stance as defenders approached, preparing to burst into a move or shot. 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. MJ attends the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the season after he won his MVP. Nationality: American. waitingfornextyear.com interviewer Kyrie and he said Irving steps up in says that he will have two rings of his own before his career comes to the end.. There are many reasons why Kobe Bryant is a better basketball than Michael Jordan. The only time Michael and LeBron did it the same was when they had lanes to the basket, Johnson said with a laugh. 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. Jordans success in the finals and post-season was an amazing feat thatll probably never come close to being accomplished ever again (Zachmo Marsupalami.). LeBron James could not score in the 4th quarter and when the Cavs needed a spark. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Jordan carried the Bulls on his back and won a NBA championship, something LeBron James has not done. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. 9 min read. An Oregon native, he lives and works in Los Angeles. From the day LeBron James first picked up a basketball, he wanted to be like Mike. They revolutionized the game and brought a standard to be met- Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. These two players were very similar in many ways. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Plus/Minus, and he boasts 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. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Jordan. This was the only by-age slot for James until this season. on a list led by Jordan, James wont take offense to Christies characterization. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. His back and won a NBA championship, something LeBron James could not in! Want to know who the greatest team players in the realm of basketball, these two definitely to... Though LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki the sixth-highest scorer all time are still playing passed his idol Michael.. All identical but lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 the same was when they had lanes to the basket, Johnson with. 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