The Real Answer to the Lebron vs. MJ Debate

By: Mike Rifkin

During the Lakers- Thunder game on Tuesday night, Lebron James became the NBA’S all-time leading scorer passing Kareem Abdul – Jabbar’s record. Since appearing on the Sports Illustrated cover, deeming himself the chosen one, LeBron James has done what many athletes have not, and that’s lived up to the hype. But there’s always one debate that gets people: who is the Greatest Basketball player of All Time, Lebron or Michael Jordan? 

LeBron James has won four championships and won four NBA Finals MVPs. LeBron has also won four regular season MVPs. He is not only the NBA’s all-time leading scorer but also in the top five in assists and top ten in steals.

Michael Jordan won six Championships and was the MVP of each. Jordan won five regular season MVPS. Other Jordan accolades include 1984-85 Rookie Of The Year, 1987-88 Defensive Player Of The Year, nine-time All Defense, and three-time steals leader. Jordan is third all-time in steals, while LeBron currently sits ninth. While LeBron is first in scoring, Jordan is fifth. 

Here is the most significant question people should have when comparing the two, and they both surround Jordan. What if Jordan didn’t play minor league baseball in 1993-94, and leave the Bulls. What if he didn’t retire for three years before going to Washington in 2001-02? What would Jordan’s numbers look like, then? 

Both have great accolades, and nobody can deny the greatness of either player. So the answer to the question of who wins this debate is NBA Fans everywhere who were lucky to watch both guys play. It’s an unfair comparison between the two because we will never have seen them go head to head, so instead of comparing the two, how about you appreciate that you got to witness both of them play? Would LeBron have the exact numbers if he played in the 1980s? What would Jordan’s numbers look like if he never retired? What would Jordan look like if he played in today’s game? We will never know the answers to these questions, so quit bellyaching over those you deemed the greatest and just be thankful you got to witness greatness.