As everyone knows, the NBA Finals just ended with the San Antonio Spurs as the champions. This is whole basketball season, there have been talks of who would be on the Mt. Rushmore of basketball. Many people are putting Lebron James on there. In my opinion, Mt. Rushmore of basketball is Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird. As that debate started, another one was already brewing: Who's the better ball player Lebron James or Michael Jordan? Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I'm going to tell you mine. I believe Michael Jordan is by far the superior player. How so?
Michael Jordan went to University of North Carolina and instantly became a winner. When the Bulls drafted Jordan, he also helped them win instantly.Maybe not in the form of championships, but his play affected the rest of his teammates. Michael consistently improved his game as well as those around him.
We do see Lebron do the similar things, but a big difference that at least I've seen is that Jordan's competition only made him better. Not that today's athletes aren't competitors, but I feel that teams were more balanced back in the of MJ. Lebron has played in 5 finals and is 2-3, Michael in 6 finals is 6-0. Michael has played Magic, Drexler, Barkley, Payton, and Malone and Stockon twice in the finals and beat all of them. No disrespect to Tim Duncan and company, but Lebron has played them 3 times in the finals(twice with the Heat and once with Cavs) and only beat them once.
A comparison between Lebron and Michael is that they know how to do everything from score to defend to getting rebounds. They've made All-Defensive teams, won MVP's,made it to All-Star games and won scoring titles. There are also the respective teams(Bulls and Cavs) all time scorers. Something Michael never felt compelled to form a "Superstar Team" to win a championship. He knew he could win with who he had on his team, he just had the patience. LeBron felt the need to team up with superstars in order to win, he never gave Cleveland a real shot. It took Michael 7 years to make to the finals and win, it only took Lebron 4 years to make it to the finals.
Michael won numerous MVP's, multiple scoring titles, lead the league in steals many times and lead his team on the court through numerous battles. Lebron had the likes of D'wayne Wade or Chris Bosh to his, yes Jordan had Pippen, but Jordan always made Pippen and his other teammates better. Michael always showed up in the clutch, made the right shots, or played his defensive scheme to the nose. He made people afraid to play him, I feel that Lebron does not have that fear instilled into other teams. I mean no disrespect to Lebron, he's a tremendous athlete and ballplayer, the best in the league. Jordan is by far the superior overall best player I have ever seen.
When all is said and done, Lebron will probably be on the Mt. Rushmore of basketball, but will he be ahead of his "Airness", I don't think so. I do think that Lebron will be the closest thing we have to MJ in quite some time.
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