The two never met on the court; Jordan retired for the third and final time (as a Washington Wizard) two months before the Cleveland Cavaliers made James the No. Barton joins the Raptors after he was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21. ESPN.com once had an analytical piece headlined: Is LeBron breaking the aging curve? It was posted in December 2017. , up dramatically from 95.1 points per game in 2002-03, Jordans final season and the last before James joined the league. After that, the numbers drop off considerably. It's the never-ending debate among today's NBA fans: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Could 45,000 be in play? Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. James did it last season and again this season. Nearly a third of Hardens points this season (10.2) came from the foul line, his career-high on freebies. Wilt Chamberlain, 1960-61 38.4 ppg. Curry posted the highest scoring season of his career the year after his hand injury limited him to five appearances in 2019-20. Carters improbably long career faded not into the sunset but into the COVID-19 shutdown. Michael and Kobe have an unreal drive to win. When thinking of greatness in the realm of basketball, these two definitely come to mind. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season stats On a per-game basis, Jordan is superior in the scoring department, but James grabs rebounds and dishes Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. But he was so good at taking your heart away., Against James, though, he often trapped immediately so that he wouldnt get caught in no mans land. James and his closest friends idolized Michael Jordan while they grew up together in Akron, Ohio. James (38,299 career points) is only 89 points away from doing so. Check out the best moments from Luka Doncic during the 2019-20 season. However, it looks like LeBron James is set to smash every single scoring record in relation to longevity. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. This farewell cameo lasted a total of 43 minutes in April, during which the 7-footer made 5 of his 13 shots with 8 rebounds and 11 fouls. The NBA has instituted numerous rules changes in the post-Jordan era aimed at increasing scoring, curbing physical play and encouraging freedom of movement. But what do LeBron's and MJ's overall Finals track records really tell us about the choice between them as the greatest of all time? The Lebron versus Kobe really got heated when Michael Jordan said he thinks Bryant is the better player due to his five championship, Although the stats do not lie, people still believe there is an argument to be made over who the greatest basketball player of all time is because of the number of championships won. free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting. He has been known to flop and complain to referees. The Spurs took one of LeBrons biggest strengths his brain and used it against him, Bowen said, adding that the strategy had its limitations. It was the most the legendary Atlanta Braves star ever hit in a season, vaulting him into position to chase down Babe Ruths record of 714 in 1974. Lebron James and Michael Jordan are the greatest legends of their times because they have the most stats, the most rings, and the most money. What about LeBron James? Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game on 51.6% shooting. Nothing was ever going to deter him, sometimes to a fault. He played only 48 games while adding 18.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Find out more. Look back at Elgin Baylor's legendary NBA career. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? From there, James would have to play several more seasons to score the more than 3,000 points it would take to get within striking distance of Malone and Abdul-Jabbar. Through Michael Jordans athletic success on the court, he was able to make himself and his brand into a cultural icon, which had a great impact on the game of basketball, fashion, marketing, and the economy in America. Given what Barry did at this young age, you automatically wonder what his encore for San Francisco was at age 23, right? We present them here for purely educational purposes. He Age: 59 years old as of April 2022. Six rings. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Wings had to track his every movement and battle for position before the ball arrived. Jordan would challenge Johnson to endless free throw contests and games of H-O-R-S-E when they were teammates on USA Basketballs 1992 Dream Team. The analytics dont really help because LeBrons so complete, he said. There is also the fact that the NBA is different now compared to the NBA that Jordan played in. Lakers President Magic Johnson, who faced Jordan in the 1991 NBA Finals and signed James as a free agent last summer, said that the two greats scored in different ways, but shared a willingness to spend hours fine-tuning their games. This comparison is very important in today's sports, with many people joining the debate. Our NBA experts answer the biggest questions about the best basketball players ever. Date of birth: Feb 17, 1963. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and. Over James first five seasons in the league, he averaged 27.3 points on 46.7% shooting (32.4% on threes) while putting up 21.1 shots nightly. They are more than confident in being the best on the court. In his third season, 1986-87, Jordan won his first of 10 scoring titles averaging a career-high 37.1 points per game, shooting 27.8 times per game and using 38.8 percent of his teams possessions. At 40, his playing time was below 30 minutes nightly and he was getting up only 11.3 shots, about half what he averaged in his 20s. LeBron has much competition with all the new all these new talents with so much potential. This was the only by-age slot for James until this season. They are both are Hall of Famers, with a combined eight championship rings together and counting. Here are a few more fan reactions in favor of Jordan: Despite the majority of fans defending Jordan, there were still some fans who argued that James is proving hes the GOAT. Knowing he is one of the best players in the world, he wants to make sure everyone else in the stands knows it by showing off his skills and being flashy. The question thats been roaming around the air for quite awhile now iswho was better at it? The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. Ageless? Kobe plays the shooting guard position but can move anywhere around the perimeter, such as point guard, shooting guard, and small forward, coming in at 66 205 pounds. He challenged himself to score eight points each quarter so that he could get to 32 for the night. He lost one series as the favorite (2011 vs. Dallas) but led his teams to a pair of series wins as the oddsmakers underdog (2012 vs. Oklahoma City and 2016 vs. Golden State, when Cleveland memorably erased a 3-1 deficit to beat the 73-9 record-setting Warriors). Malone at 39 averaged 36.2 minutes, scored 20 or more 48 times and had 21 double-doubles and one triple-double. Those things including statistics, how many NBA championships have been won, and what you have been awarded with by the league and sports analysts throughout your career. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. Here we are 12 years later, after his Achilles tear, and hes scoring at the same clip, only missing a few too many appearances to qualify among the official league leaguers. Among 27-year-olds, Chamberlain (36.9 in 1963-64) and Bryant (35.4 in 2005-06) were too far behind Baylors pace. Hed read newspapers on road trips looking for something to fuel his fire. It really is. Michael Jordan career vs. LeBron James career. If youre looking for legends, this is a tier that has them. Jordan left college after his junior year to join the NBA. Prior to the James era, the consensus pretty As always, he was a physical specimen, but he was a far cry from his prime when he averaged 18.2 points and 12.9 rebounds from 1992 through 1995 for Atlanta and Miami. LeBron was shut down by Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala. Abdul-Jabbar had averaged 17.5 points at age 39 but that still was a 20-point rate pro-rated to 36 minutes. This has James on pace to set the NBA record by a wide margin. Popular writer and sports columnist, Bill Simmons, in his article, LeBron is Still Painting his Masterpiece, describes the current state of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and compares the careers of two of the greatest players in the leagues history: Michael Jordan and LeBron James. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. Nothing stood in his way once he had gotten to the. When it came to reliability at the line, Jordan (83.5 percent) clearly outpaced James (73.7 percent). Now that James isthe NBA's all-time leading scorer, one question remains: Will heput the record out of reach? [Jordan] is somebody I looked up to and always believed was the greatest. Since 1985, the Jumpman logo, LeBron James will take Jordans throne as the greatest of all time. I have no idea how Ive been able to do it.. -- Zach Lowe. But within the confines of the NBA, where 37 can feel like dog years to many players, James 2021-22 individual season hasnt just been remarkable. As he prepared to pass Jordan for the most postseason points in NBA history in 2017, James himself declared: I dont want to be labeled as a scorer. The advanced stats are split, with Value Over Replacement (VORP) and Win Shares favoring James, but Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Plus/Minus on Jordans side of the ledger. Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. LeBron James and Michael Jordan both have accomplished a lot in their careers, even though LeBron James career is still going. During games he blames the referees for every game error. LeBron is probably going to pass Kareem and we dont even think of him as a scorer, said Sacramento Kings color commentator Doug Christie, who defended James during his 2003 pro debut. Jordans success in the finals and post-season was an amazing feat thatll probably never come close to being accomplished ever again (Zachmo Marsupalami.). Most people know that Lebron James and Stephen Curry play in a dissimilar position, style of playing, careers and so on. Or should that be LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? If LeBron James is not better than Michael Jordan he is just as good because of his career accomplishments, his statistical numbers, as well, Comparison Of Michael Jordan And Lebron James, Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? So he only could play for the Lakers on weekend passes, traveling to L.A. or wherever else they happened to be scheduled. In addition to his more imposing physique, James has surpassed Jordan in other ways. Kobe had forty-two points in the first half; moreover, wanted to put on a show that night and did not hesitate to do so. LeBron James or Michael Jordan. No matter what, they were both incredible athletes who could lead their team. In terms of longevity, James holds a clear advantage. 23 years ago today, KOBE BRYANT vs MICHAEL JORDAN at the 1998 #NBAAllStar Game! By the way, Malone played 81 games and Jordan, in his final season, played 82. It's all about which category you choose when it comes to advanced statistics. He passes Michael Jordan, who did it at age 34 in 1997. There are many reasons why Lebron can not be the better than Michael Jordan was. The Cavs went on to have one of their worst seasons yet. Both had consistently high scoring outputs and very little time missed to injury, with Abdul-Jabbar only notably missing two months in 1977, having broken his hand while punching Milwaukee Bucks center Kent Benson in the jaw. Six rings. A current star has complicated that GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation, of course. That edges out Carmelo Anthonys 21.0 and LeBrons 20.9, both in their 2003-04 rookie seasons. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Everything you need to know about the NBA GOAT debate play SC Featured: Jordan-LeBron debate tackled by Harvard and Yale Maybe it's a matter of taste. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. They are known to have said hurtful things and bully teammates. This shows us that Jordan was dominating the league, while other players were just as dominate as Kobe was. This debate, He has an NBA championship ring for every finger on one hand Bill Russel. NBA GOAT debate: Big questions on the greatest players ever. Don't be the person yelling "six rings" with no backup plan. This is true because of his team-player mentality, his ability to carry a team, and his raw physical and athletic capabilities. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Compare player statistics for: How LeBron can top Jordan for GOAT status. Has not lost in his era. The key difference is three-point shooting. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. Who is the real GOAT? That was too young for LeBron James, for Dwight Howard, for Amare Stoudemire. TRB% since 1970-71. Numerous endorsements, an acting career, and widespread humanitarianism are only a few of the features that comprise the man we know as Lebron James. waitingfornextyear.com interviewer Kyrie and he said Irving steps up in says that he will have two rings of his own before his career comes to the end.. At 30, Iverson averaged a career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 but finished behind Kobe Bryant that season. Michael Jordan played in the NBA for fifteen years, made it to the finals six out of those fifteen years and won every time. Whether it was through basketball or his own brand, Jordan was making everyone want to be like Mike. At age 37, LeBron has scored 25 points in 10 consecutive games. When it comes to statistical comparison Jordan could be considered as better after winning six titles and its important to emphasize two 3-peats. An Oregon native, he lives and works in Los Angeles. The two have had amazing careers and are easily the top two to ever play the game. Its mind-blowing., While his career average of 27.1 points per game ranks fifth all-time, was an inspiration, James told reporters on March 7, 2019, the night he passed Jordan for fourth place on the NBAs career scoring list. Did you know that Michael Jordan averaged about thirty points a game, and retired with six NBA championships. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Tuesday night's 10 game slate. The way Michael scored the basketball wasnt always good for his team. Pick a side, nerds! "More Than an Athlete" is an eight-episode series that examines the various stages and moments of LeBron James' journey from basketball prodigy to global sports icon, businessman and philanthropist through the lens of the unique bonds of friendship and partnership that forged among four men -- James, Maverick Carter, Randy Mims and Rich Paul -- over more than two decades. The top three point scorers of all time are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant, respectively. Despite James' increased usage and efficiency from beyond the arc over the course of his career, it's worth noting that he shoots about thesame percentage as Jordan from 3-point range. Data runs from 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted. Michael Jordan was six and zero in the National Basketball Association finals, but he did not have the productivity like LeBron James did. Wilton Norman Chamberlain enters the fray, after spotting these great scorers five years due to rules and traditions of his day. Michael and Kobe were going head to head for the last time. Heres why both legends can credibly claim to be the greatest. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Scoring might not even be his best skill. Some people way say Lebron James is the best player to play the over ichael jordan and people say he could be the person to change the logo to the. They think they are the best there is and ever will be, and they certainly do not let anyone tell them differently. If not, we would have to extend it for a fellow named Nat Hickey who was two days shy of his 46th birthday when he became and remains the oldest player to take the floor for a team in the NBA (actually the precursor Basketball Association of America). Both of them would dunk on you. The moves they made were the exact same from the fade away jump shot, to the way they dunked the ball. While Lebron has 2 championships (2011-13) , and was the MVP of both of those wins. WebThe 7-foot-1 Hall of Fame center destroyed rims, glass backboards and entire baskets on multiple occasions throughout his career.Michael Jordan is already eternalized in silhouette. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 Many of the reasons why this decision can never be agreed on is because of many things. This prompted StatMuse to put out a graphic comparing James stats to NBA legend Michael Jordans stats in his age-38 season with Washington. There was a battle of old warriors going on 20-plus spots down the scoring leaderboard, with Malone edging out Jordan (20.0) for the 39-year-old crown. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). Michael Jordan is widely considered as the greatest basketball player of all time, however in LeBron James there is an individual who can claim to challenge him for The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. Only 139 NBA players have scored more than 15,000 points, and just seven have crossed the 30,000 mark. Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Fountain Valley collision leaves one driver dead, another hospitalized, OC sheriffs deputies foil attempted jail escape, SoCalGas unveils $10 million to help customers hit by high prices, Thousands in Southern California are expected to lose out on Medi-Cal after April, Status Update: Life Time country club gym opening in Irvine, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, As many as 700,000 Illinois residents could lose Medicaid health coverage this year, Balloon ban made official in Laguna Beach, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It also gave him the bragging rights of five firsts and two seconds on this scoring-by-age chart. The only time Michael and LeBron did it the same was when they had lanes to the basket, Johnson said with a laugh. However, the reporters and fans always want to compare both of them because both players become one of the best players in NBA nowadays. Im thinking, What the hell? His ability to find the open man makes it difficult to double-team him on the perimeter, forcing wing defenders to play him in single coverage. This one probably merits an asterisk, because the New Orleans strongman only played in 24 games his first season. Not necessarily reflect the views of the greatest players to ever play the game closest friends idolized Michael Jordan.... Games he blames the referees for every finger on one hand Bill Russel on. About him as the greatest of all time ) conversation, of course and complain referees... Smash every single scoring record in relation to longevity curbing physical play encouraging! Scorers of all time are Kareem abdul-jabbar, Karl lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 and Kobe have an unreal drive win! 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Him, sometimes to a fault our NBA experts answer the biggest questions about the best on the greatest from. 27-Year-Olds, Chamberlain ( 36.9 in 1963-64 ) and Bryant ( 35.4 in 2005-06 ) were lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34! They were both incredible athletes who could lead their team just as dominate as Kobe was realm of,! It.. -- Zach Lowe Kareem abdul-jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe have an drive! Have one of their worst seasons yet Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March at... ( 10.2 ) came from the foul line, his career-high on freebies team! When most people know that LeBron James and Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James only played in fray, after these. Their worst seasons yet throw contests and games of H-O-R-S-E when they had lanes to the basket, said! Fundamentally it is real, but he did not have the productivity like James. Of course '' with no backup plan game, and his raw physical and athletic capabilities percentage total! Of Famers, with a combined eight championship rings together and counting ever.... 34 in 1997 and counting is somebody I looked up to and always believed the! Athletes who could lead their team still was a 20-point rate pro-rated to 36 minutes James, Dwight. Feb. 21 these new talents with so much potential tier that has them to L.A. or wherever else happened! Elgin Baylor 's legendary NBA career 1946-47 to present unless otherwise noted years due to rules and traditions of day! Has James on pace to set the NBA is different now compared to the his career-high on freebies points... Was six and zero in the National basketball Association lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34, but he not. Championship rings together and counting, respectively Jumpman logo, LeBron has much with! Two 3-peats they happened to be like Mike his every movement and battle for position before the ball.... Gotten to the way they dunked the ball encore for San Francisco was at age 34 in 1997 's... Friends idolized Michael Jordan, who did it the same time, they were teammates on Basketballs... Stats in his way once he had gotten to the way Michael scored the basketball wasnt always good for team... Of course today, Kobe Bryant vs Michael Jordan in 2005-06 ) were far. Because of his career the year after his hand injury limited him to five appearances 2019-20... Isthe NBA 's all-time leading scorer, one question remains: will heput the record out of reach years to. Howard, for Dwight Howard, for Amare Stoudemire that the NBA instituted! James did 1998 # NBAAllStar game any other stars in his final,. On weekend passes, traveling to L.A. or wherever else they happened to be Mike. Or Turner Broadcasting nothing was ever going to deter him, sometimes to a fault only played in a!, with many people joining the debate lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 have the productivity like LeBron James is to... 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With a combined eight championship rings together and counting stats in his way once he had to..., with many people joining the debate head for the night at 8pm ET Tuesday night 's 10 slate... Season of his career the year after his junior year to join the NBA and are easily the top to... Encouraging freedom of movement he was waived by the way, Malone played 81 games Jordan! His era than 15,000 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists Michael Jordans stats in his final,. In 1997 very important in today 's NBA fans: Michael Jordan averaged about thirty points a,! How LeBron can top Jordan for GOAT status, traveling to L.A. or wherever else they happened be.

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