Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The comparison of Michael Jordan and LeBron James has gone on for years now, but it’s finally time for the truth. Chances are if you’re reading this, you already have a strong opinion. That said, I promise whatever position you hold, the real answer won’t be the one you are looking for. We’ll start with the basics:
Jordan/James
Third overall pick in 1984/First overall pick in 2003
6-foot-6, 216 pounds/6-foot-8, 240 pounds
30.1 PPG/27.3 PPG
6.2 RPG/7.1 RPG
5.3 APG/6.9 APG
2.3 STL/1.7 STL
0.8 BLK/0.8 BLK
2.7 TOs/3.4 TOs
.497 FG%/.496 FG%
.835 FT%/.745 FT%
.327 3PT%/.342 3PT%
38.3 MPG/39.3 MPG
1,072 career games/911 career games
Six championships/Two championships
Two gold medals/Two gold medals
As you can see, no one player is better than the other in all categories. LeBron has played more minutes per game, but MJ scored more points. LeBron has more assists and rebounds per game, and MJ had more steals. LeBron is better from beyond the arc, and MJ was better at the line. The list goes on and on. Those are the stats. You can’t argue with them.
My stance on the subject, however, is simply this: no one player is the best of all-time. It’s impossible to determine, so the best we can do is compare stats because that’s all we have. It’s not sexy, but it’s basketball. Comparing points per game is virtually the same as comparing their middle names to one another. It’s pointless.
Now, comparing championships might be little more significant, but it’s almost just as pointless. A championship signifies that the player was on the best team during a specific year, but it’s not individual. No basketball player goes out on the court and tries to collect as much individual stats as they can. They try to win the game within their system. That is all.
Becoming a great team takes a process, and all players learn during that process. Players learn how to win, but not before learning how to lose. No one person just stumbles upon greatness at the NBA level — they earn it. MJ was never a great shooter when he first came into the league, but he learned to get better through trial and error. LeBron is built like a train at 6-foot-8, but his strength and speed driving to the basket didn’t just come to him. They both worked to get those attributes. They both persevered.
Not only is player education key, but coach education as well. Last I checked, neither player has ever been an NBA head coach. Phil Jackson and David Blatt don’t just sit on the bench and watch the game for the purpose of warming a seat. They tell players what to do and how best to succeed in their particular system. Jackson of the Bulls had the famous triangle offense at their disposal when Jordan played, and they were able to three-peat twice because of that.
The game is a lot different now though. Players in the league are more athletic and posses flashier talents. Systems are easier, workouts are harder and the ability to play solid defense without receiving a foul is virtually impossible. There are just way too many differences to actually compare who’s the best of all time. Statistics can only take the argument so far.
Instead of comparing, fans need to sit back and the enjoy every second they compete on the court. Jordan has been retired for a while, and there is no disputing his greatness, but James is currently the best because he’s the only one of the two who is playing. Relax, it’s still a beautiful sport to watch.
Samuel Martell is Oklahoma City’s beat writer at www.RantSports.com. To stay connected, ‘follow’ him on Twitter, ‘like’ him on Facebook, or ‘add’ him to your network on Google.
