Seen both of their careers. Its pretty simple---Lebron James physically is a better basketball player than Jordan. There is no phase of the game that Jordan was superior except 1-1 defense. I dont care who has what rings--LBJ is the best player I have ever seen.
Have you forgotten how clutch MJ was? No one has ever been as clutch. Kobe doesnt come close and hes a way clutcher than lebron
MJ averaged over 30 virtually every yr while shooting over 50%
Lebron is probably the best all around player to ever play the game. Better than Magic who had a weaker jumpshot and wasnt as clutch.
Also keep in mind MJ played when they allowed handchecking so based on that fact alone MJ owns Lebron
You can breathe on Lebron now when guarding him
Also MJ has 6rings to brons 1
MJ had pippen
Bron has frickin Wade bosh and ray allen.
I was a huge jordan fan. Knicks bulls was the ultimate event.
I get highly annoyed when people try to compare the 2. Compare Lebron to Magic not MJ. Apples and oranges
A few more titles and mvps and Lebron will have a resume to rival MJ, but it's way too soon to make this statement now.
I understand why the comparison comes up...LeBron is pretty damn good, and right now he is absolutely flawless.
Can't agree, for the reasons guns outlined. The major differentiator is coming through in the clutch, getting up for big games. In a regular season game, as far as numbers, efficiency, sure, maybe you can argue LeBron. But, LeBron has choked multiple times. Jordan has not. Give me a game 7, down by 1, and I'll take Jordan every time and he will win 8 or 9 out of 10 times. LeBron might win 5 out of 10. LeBron is an incredible talent and probably will go down as one of the top 5 players of all time. But he's not Jordan.
If he has some dramatic postseason battles where he is victorious and the reason for the victories, and matches MJ's clutchness over the next 5 years, I will happily rethink my stance. 
gunsnewing wrote:Have you forgotten how clutch MJ was? No one has ever been as clutch. Kobe doesnt come close and hes a way clutcher than lebronMJ averaged over 30 virtually every yr while shooting over 50%
Lebron is probably the best all around player to ever play the game. Better than Magic who had a weaker jumpshot and wasnt as clutch.
Also keep in mind MJ played when they allowed handchecking so based on that fact alone MJ owns Lebron
You can breathe on Lebron now when guarding him
Also MJ has 6rings to brons 1
MJ had pippen
Bron has frickin Wade bosh and ray allen.
I was a huge jordan fan. Knicks bulls was the ultimate event.
I get highly annoyed when people try to compare the 2. Compare Lebron to Magic not MJ. Apples and oranges
Every era has a good arguement. Wilt most dominant in his era. The player not the team.
MJ had a top 50 lock down defender in Pippen to help him. Does that take away from him? Not really.
Lebron is a facilitator and perhaps that is what takes him over the top. The kid is a monster who can eat you down low, beat you from the outside and run the point. MJ makes others better because he got doubled and when he learned to pass out got very dangerous.
Lebron sees things MJ never could.
I get where Briggs is coming from and have come to the same conclusion. It really was a matter of time and one day someone will eclipse Lebron. Some 7 foot god will decend from the heavens and be Hakeem, with jordan moves, a Durant/Dirk jumper, Lebrons handle and court vision all in the body of Dwight.
Briggs is talking about "total package" in a different era.
Solace wrote:Can't agree, for the reasons guns outlined. The major differentiator is coming through in the clutch, getting up for big games. In a regular season game, as far as numbers, efficiency, sure, maybe you can argue LeBron. But, LeBron has choked multiple times. Jordan has not. Give me a game 7, down by 1, and I'll take Jordan every time and he will win 8 or 9 out of 10 times. LeBron might win 5 out of 10. LeBron is an incredible talent and probably will go down as one of the top 5 players of all time. But he's not Jordan.If he has some dramatic postseason battles where he is victorious and the reason for the victories, and matches MJ's clutchness over the next 5 years, I will happily rethink my stance.
You get the benefit of hindsight and the Legend that was Jordan which was pounded in our heads. He was epic and the best of his generation and before.
Jordan has his "moments" but we only see the highlights to galvanize the legend.
I use Wilt because in his prime he was unstoppable and the best player in the game. Not the best "winner" or "finisher" perhaps.
Maybe Lebron does not have resume via "chips". Jordan did not win his first until he was 27 either and "clutch" was not tatoo'd on him yet.
Jordan might have had the better career, but Lebron is a bigger, faster player with better vision and he shoots over 50% now.
Focus on "better career".
But if you measure by "career" then Bill Russell is better than Jordan. 2 NCAA mens championships to his gaudy NBA total.
Nalod wrote:Solace wrote:Can't agree, for the reasons guns outlined. The major differentiator is coming through in the clutch, getting up for big games. In a regular season game, as far as numbers, efficiency, sure, maybe you can argue LeBron. But, LeBron has choked multiple times. Jordan has not. Give me a game 7, down by 1, and I'll take Jordan every time and he will win 8 or 9 out of 10 times. LeBron might win 5 out of 10. LeBron is an incredible talent and probably will go down as one of the top 5 players of all time. But he's not Jordan.If he has some dramatic postseason battles where he is victorious and the reason for the victories, and matches MJ's clutchness over the next 5 years, I will happily rethink my stance.
You get the benefit of hindsight and the Legend that was Jordan which was pounded in our heads. He was epic and the best of his generation and before.
Jordan has his "moments" but we only see the highlights to galvanize the legend.
I use Wilt because in his prime he was unstoppable and the best player in the game. Not the best "winner" or "finisher" perhaps.
Maybe Lebron does not have resume via "chips". Jordan did not win his first until he was 27 either and "clutch" was not tatoo'd on him yet.
Jordan might have had the better career, but Lebron is a bigger, faster player with better vision and he shoots over 50% now.
Focus on "better career".
But if you measure by "career" then Bill Russell is better than Jordan. 2 NCAA mens championships to his gaudy NBA total.
I argue this with my brother all the time, he is older..Russell was winning Championships when ther was only 8 teams in the league..Entirely different story and game...Doc's era ushered in a game above the rim where phisical tools and strength because important and a staple of the game...
Add to the above...Jordan had a higher basketball IQ...He was a true leader on the court..He played mental games with players and teams, sometimes coaches...He was a better penetrator...Used his body to draw more fouls(IQ)..He excelled and was more successful against better competition and better teams in bigger games...Jordan and his teams vanquished more teams in more career playoff situations...They played a different brand of defense in the 80s and 90s and still Jordan got in the lane more...Jordan took down bigger competition..Detroit, Knicks, Lakers, Cleveland, Boston, Utah, Sonics, Phoenix, Indy, Portland..U can arguably say that Utah, Knicks, and Portland would have rings if not for Jordan..I'm sure I am missing a couple of teams...Stopped Ewing,Drexel(in Portland, might have got one in Houston), Mailman, Barkley from a ring...Bron never had a season of 200 steals and 100 blocks..Never came close, either...Jordan's game was more ecstatically pleasing...Jordan's game was more about his skill and finesse..Bron is more about his physical prowess...Lastly, what Solace said and most important, there is no other player on the planet in the history of this game(last 40 yrs)I would rather have the ball when it mattered most..Jordan!!!
Nalod wrote:gunsnewing wrote:Have you forgotten how clutch MJ was? No one has ever been as clutch. Kobe doesnt come close and hes a way clutcher than lebronMJ averaged over 30 virtually every yr while shooting over 50%
Lebron is probably the best all around player to ever play the game. Better than Magic who had a weaker jumpshot and wasnt as clutch.
Also keep in mind MJ played when they allowed handchecking so based on that fact alone MJ owns Lebron
You can breathe on Lebron now when guarding him
Also MJ has 6rings to brons 1
MJ had pippen
Bron has frickin Wade bosh and ray allen.
I was a huge jordan fan. Knicks bulls was the ultimate event.
I get highly annoyed when people try to compare the 2. Compare Lebron to Magic not MJ. Apples and oranges
Every era has a good arguement. Wilt most dominant in his era. The player not the team.
MJ had a top 50 lock down defender in Pippen to help him. Does that take away from him? Not really.
Lebron is a facilitator and perhaps that is what takes him over the top. The kid is a monster who can eat you down low, beat you from the outside and run the point. MJ makes others better because he got doubled and when he learned to pass out got very dangerous.
Lebron sees things MJ never could.
I get where Briggs is coming from and have come to the same conclusion. It really was a matter of time and one day someone will eclipse Lebron. Some 7 foot god will decend from the heavens and be Hakeem, with jordan moves, a Durant/Dirk jumper, Lebrons handle and court vision all in the body of Dwight.
Briggs is talking about "total package" in a different era.
He has already descended upon us. His name is Itme diogu
Thats another good point holfresh with expansion there arent as many tough teams as jordan faced
holfresh wrote:Add to the above...Jordan had a higher basketball IQ...He was a true leader on the court..He played mental games with players and teams, sometimes coaches...He was a better penetrator...Used his body to draw more fouls(IQ)..He excelled and was more successful against better competition and better teams in bigger games...Jordan and his teams vanquished more teams in more career playoff situations...They played a different brand of defense in the 80s and 90s and still Jordan got in the lane more...Jordan took down bigger competition..Detroit, Knicks, Lakers, Cleveland, Boston, Utah, Sonics, Phoenix, Indy, Portland..U can arguably say that Utah, Knicks, and Portland would have rings if not for Jordan..I'm sure I am missing a couple of teams...Stopped Ewing,Drexel(in Portland, might have got one in Houston), Mailman, Barkley from a ring...Bron never had a season of 200 steals and 100 blocks..Never came close, either...Jordan's game was more ecstatically pleasing...Jordan's game was more about his skill and finesse..Bron is more about his physical prowess...Lastly, what Solace said and most important, there is no other player on the planet in the history of this game(last 40 yrs)I would rather have the ball when it mattered most..Jordan!!!
I can see you list some subjective aspects which we all have, but your looking at a whole 15 season career.
Jordan had 5 mvp's by age 34 and should have had more. Lebron will have had 4 by the age of 28. MVP is not perfect, but its a measure of peers.
Jordan had better teams and Phil. Miami is not overly deep like Chicago's was.
Championships are very important and in the era of Cap on salary it will be very hard for lebron to be on great teams. Mike got paid 30mm in his last years in Chicago. That won't work anymore.
At the same if teams are "diluted" because of the cap and parity reigns it might be easier for a great player to carry a team.
We'll see.
All good arguements. Lebron is a work in progress while Jordan's "career" is cast.
My that measure I put Bill Russell's career ahead of Jordan's. By "Player" standard I put Lebron ahead of Jordan.
If you combine "who is the best player AND career" I 'd say Jordan!
Lebron would have cracked against the Physicality of the Pistons and Knicks during hand checking era. This thread is so bizarre.... anyone questioning Micheal's physical toughness is suffering from Alz....
Lebron may be physically a better talent than Jordan and even in many respects it's arguable if he is.
LeBron may be able to more than Jordan but Jordan did what he did better than anyone else. He's the best I've ever seen and after how he tormented the Knicks, I'm shocked to see you say otherwise
jordan's era was much more physical and much more competive.
LBJ is a combo of magic and jordan, one on one both in there prime.. MJ wins 10 out of 10.
A guy who can blow by you or shoot jumpers like water all day, defend one on onehow do you guard him one on one
knicks1248 wrote:jordan's era was much more physical and much more competive. LBJ is a combo of magic and jordan, one on one both in there prime.. MJ wins 10 out of 10.
A guy who can blow by you or shoot jumpers like water all day, defend one on onehow do you guard him one on one
60 pounds of pure muscle and three inches says otherwise. He is nothing like Magic. LBJ is not only the best athlete in the league EVER-- hes the strongest non C to ever play. No one on this Earth is 6-9 260 and jumps 40 inches in the air except Lebron. Physical nature---there was no player as powerful as Lebron--dont sell him short biggest faster stronger and skills are just as good better passer easily an equivalent 3pt shooter and it would eb tough for Mike to stop a man like Lebron onside. I like some of these guys saying LBJ had Wade well Scottie Pippen was better overall than WAde and the Bulls had MANY more pieces and better depth especially inside.
There's no comparison Jordan was way better offensively and more clutch. Also Jordan never had a wade or a bosh... When Lebron wins one without another superstar then we can start the comparison... At the same time they are completely different players I think comparing him to magic Johnson is better.... I guess you could compare pippen to bosh.. Pippen was the better defender
Also I'd like to see how Lebron would do vs the defense of Jordan era with no hand checking rule he def wouldn't be able to drive at will like he dose now
Pippen better then wade stop Briggs lol that's a insult to wade
One is a guard and the other a forward, so it is a moot point
Miami has wade bosh and allen. Bulls had pippen and rodman. Neither of those 2 score like wade and bosh. Bulls had harper armstrong kerr longely and wennington. Its not even close. Lebron has a much better supporting cast. Except MJ had by far the better coach but spolstra is no slouch either
Oh and Lebron can't win with just good role players proven with his time in Cleveland. Jordan won time and time again with good role players and Scottie and had the best reg season in nba history going 72 and 10 ... Something ill never forget... I don't see Lebron doing that. I'd give Lebron way more credit if he stayed in Cleveland and actually won..
