The debate Lebron vs Jordan is long and heated. There isn't one sports fan that hasn't entertained this question at least five times.
Ever since Lebron went to the Heat, the Jordan proponents talk about how Jordan didn't need to go to another team to win a title, and when Jordan was Lebron's age his stats were leaps and bounds ahead.
In 1984-85,The Bulls (Michael Jordan’s rookie year), averaged 108.7 Points/Game. Jordan personally averaged 28.2 Points/Game and 5.9 Assists/Game. Orlando Woolridge was the next highest scorer on the team, averaging 22.9 Points/Game and 1.8 Assists/Game
The 2003-04 Cavaliers (Lebron James’ rookie year), averaged 92.9 Points/Game. Lebron averaged 20.9 Points/Game and 5.9 Assists/Game. Carlos Boozer averaged the next highest Points/Game with 15.5 and 2.7 Assists/Game.
There’s no I in team. It’s easy to say that Jordan was a better player than Lebron, but you have to look at the team Lebron was on. If you don’t have an offensively helpful team you’re not going to score points. There won’t be opportunities for you to get open if you’re the only one producing. Michael Jordan had 5 players shooting 50% or better, 3 of whom were averaging 10.0 Points/Game or higher. A team producing 61.1 Points/Game with it’s three most successful shooters (.54 FG%) will create more opportunities for a star than a team averaging 37.7 Points/Game with their 3 most successful (.49 FG%).
Jordan averaged .74 points/minute and Lebron .53. Jordan’s team was definitely better all around, you can’t just compare stats and say that one was better than the other.
Jordan at 28 had played only 92 playoff games, while Lebron is already played 124. The stats for Jordan are leaps and bounds above Lebron, but that still plays into the quality of the team. If you’re given opportunities you’re going to take advantage of them.
Lebron James doesn’t deserve pity, or a “Get Out of Jail Free Card” because his team sucks, he could have done what Michael Jordan did, take less in your paycheck and convince players to come to your squad. Michael Jordan realized at a young age he wouldn’t be able to carry a team all alone, so he picked up a side-kick or two. MJ wouldn’t have won three-out-of-six championships without Scottie Pippen. There was at least one year where MJ wasn’t the highest paid player on his own team.
In my humble opinion Michael Jordan is a better basketball player than Lebron. I believe that Michael Jordan showed more raw basketball knowledge and talent than Lebron. Lebron may be a better athlete than Jordan, but if you’re not smart about the game and you aren’t the Greatest-of-All-Time.
- David B.
Thanks to Basketball Reference for all stats used in this post.
