Michael Jordan (6’6” shooting guard, 3 rd overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft) Let’s set the stage and discuss their legendary accomplishments as a basis of comparison. However, the legacy Jordan left and the one LeBron is carving serves as fertile soil for the great debate as to who is the greatest to ever grace the hardcourt. This illustrates they not only fell short in the playoffs but failed to live up to their lofty expectations at the betting windows throughout the season. Unfortunately, they never played against each other, with Jordan’s career ending in 2003 while LeBron broke into the league the following season.Īlthough LeBron’s 2020-2021 season was supremely disappointing, with the Lakers getting bounced in the first round after winning the NBA championship last year, it is also interesting to note that according to the NBA ATS standings this season, the LA Lakers ranked 25 th of 30 teams. As Michael Eric Dyson appropriately notes in his book, “What Truth Sounds Like,” James is a black athlete who has parlayed his accolades, trophies and galactic superstardom to “step out of character and break the mythology of a raceless and neutral American identity.Unless you have forgotten your morning cup of coffee or don’t know the NBA from the PGA, the two names at the top of anyone’s list are Michael Jordan and LeBron James. James’s tale only begins on the hardwood. Here's the thing, though: Jordan’s story now endures mainly through his Air Jordan shoes, memes and YouTube highlights. Plus, James’ collective performances in the 2016 Finals - against a vaunted and historic Golden State Warriors team - arguably trump Jordan's individual playoff brilliance. While James has won fewer titles (three), he has made the finals for eight consecutive years, will almost assuredly accumulate higher career totals in major statistical categories and is clearly on par, if not better, according to advanced comparisons of both players ( Player Efficiency Rating and Value Over Replacement Player). Jordan’s case for greatest of all time rests on his considerable individual accolades, six championship, and the fact that he never lost a series in the NBA Finals. Vincent-St Mary High School basketball phenomenon LeBron James laughs with his teammates Marcus Johnson and Willie McGee during the fourth quarter against Kettering Alter High School at University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio on Feb. The basketball wunderkind began to make national ripples as a teenager when Sports Illustrated “The Chosen One” on its cover and ESPN televised his high school games. So while Jordan’s statistics and trophy vault are impressive, he falls behind when you look at the bigger picture.įor the uninitiated, James was designated Michael Jordan’s heir even before he had attended his senior prom. Michael Jordan, in comparison, gave primacy to corporate interests. By embracing the struggle for social justice at a moment of sizable political polarization, he has encouraged the voice of others and cemented his legacy for posterity. As Howard Bryant writes in his book, “The Heritage,” James has courageously made “unequivocal support for black America inseparable from his public persona” and become an advocate for a cause long abandoned by black athletes. However, by one significant metric, the answer seems more apparent. And for us to come back, you know, the way we came back in that fashion, I was like, 'You did, you did something special.'” “Everybody was just talking - how were the greatest team of all time, like it was the greatest team ever assembled. “And then after I stopped, I was like - that one right there made you the greatest player of all time,” James said. Depending on what statistics or achievements you are tallying, answers vary. There are many ways to appraise Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
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