MJ vs LeBron

[EHoff99]

This tweet made me laugh out loud.

“I’ve heard more NBA employees put Jordan outside of their top 2 than put him 1st.”

i’m sorry but if you are talking to anyone and they have anyone other than MJ and LeBron in their top 2, you should end the conversation or at least recognize that their opinion shouldn’t be respected.

Adding that in made the entire tweet just sound bitter and like a joke

[THookem]

LeBron is not even second.  

[Alex Butler]

MJ, Shaq, Kobe, Magic, Wilt, Bron. Now as a prospect I don’t disagree that LeBron is a freak and great player to be sure. On the court MJ was cold as ice

[Glass Joe]

MJ wasn’t even a top 2 draft pick when he came out of UNC after his junior season.  It shows how much NBA GMs know.

MJ was head and shoulders above all his peers when he was on the court throughout his career.  That’s the measure of greatness for me.  Much like Tiger Woods on the golf course in his healthy prime, all others were just competing for second place.

There’s no doubt that LeBron has been widely recognized as the best player of his generation, but many also recognize that early in LeBron’s career, Kobe Bryant was still “the guy” in the NBA, and that during LeBron’s career there were other players who received generational GOAT superlatives (such as Steph Curry “greatest shooter of all-time”, or Tim Duncan “greatest PF of all-time”).  This doesn’t diminish LeBron’s achievements or greatness, but gives Michael’s greatness additional context.  Jordan never had peers or shared superlatives during his career.

For me, the difference between MJ and LeBron was when LeBron left Cleveland for Miami, and deferred to Dwayne Wade during winning time in the NBA Championship series (loss to Dallas).  MJ would never do something like that, and this makes him the all-time Alpha of the NBA.  To LeBron’s credit, he eventually grew into an alpha, and literally willed the Cavs to the title over GSW years later.  Props to him for the personal growth into an Alpha, but MJ never wasn’t the Alpha.

Edited 22 hours ago by Glass Joe

[GetHooked]

10 hours ago, Glass Joe said:

For me, the difference between MJ and LeBron was when LeBron left Cleveland for Miami, and deferred to Dwayne Wade during winning time in the NBA Championship series (loss to Dallas).  MJ would never do something like that, and this makes him the all-time Alpha of the NBA.  To LeBron’s credit, he eventually grew into an alpha, and literally willed the Cavs to the title over GSW years later.  Props to him for the personal growth into an Alpha, but MJ never wasn’t the Alpha.

Add this to the fact that I never saw MJ on his knees begging for a foul call.  I don't remember MJ doing that stupid flopping dance even when there was no contact.

As far as just small forwards go, I'd take Bird over LeBron. 

[Burnt Orange Horn]

So funny people compare players that never played each other in their respective primes as a valid comparison

 

[Cajunhorn]

MJ wouldn’t have shown up to a Diddy freak off in a French maid outfit either. 

[Tuco Ramirez]

4 hours ago, GetHooked said:

Add this to the fact that I never saw MJ on his knees begging for a foul call.  I don't remember MJ doing that stupid flopping dance even when there was no contact.

As far as just small forwards go, I'd take Bird over LeBron. 

This. Goats don’t whine. 

[JohnGalt]

This is probably the dumbest debate of all time. It’s MJ by 1 million miles 

MJ played every single night like his life depended on winning that game 

MJ didn’t flop around like a European woman

MJ never lost a finals 

MJ made his teammates better 

MJ didn’t pretend to be able to read books and have educated opinions

I’ll stop because this is too easy  

 

[TooBrokeToPayAttention21]

I don't like LeBron period (personal opinion) but he is a top player. He's not better than Jordan. Jalen Rose had the most simple argument of why Jordan is better than LeBron and it didn't have anything to do with numbers. 

[AceHorn23]

16 hours ago, EHoff99 said:

This tweet made me laugh out loud.

“I’ve heard more NBA employees put Jordan outside of their top 2 than put him 1st.”

i’m sorry but if you are talking to anyone and they have anyone other than MJ and LeBron in their top 2, you should end the conversation or at least recognize that their opinion shouldn’t be respected.

Adding that in made the entire tweet just sound bitter and like a joke

LeFlop isn't even top 5!

[ATX16]

Lebron is all about his brand.

Jordan was only about winning.

[CJ Vogel]

[JMarquette]

8 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

I mean, MJ also lost to the Celts and Pistons, 2 of the greatest teams assembled. 

[Jeff Howe]

I would question the basketball knowledge of anyone, let alone someone who works for an NBA franchise, who would put MJ outside of their top 2.

They're both great. But suggesting that LeBron is THAT much better is a claim I wouldn't dignify with a multi-word response.

[Roy Hinojosa]

LeBron does not have the clutch gene, and that's the separator for me. Who do you want the ball in their hands to ice a game, Jordan or LeBron? It's Jordan and it's not even close.

[Jordan91]

It’s always a sign when somebody is bored or wants attention when they say this. It happens every year. In the last six complete season Jordan played with the Bulls it ended with championships. I have Kobe over LeBron. 

[EHoff99]

2 hours ago, CJ Vogel said:

CJ, please tell me you don't actually think this is a good argument. 

1988 first round, MJ averaged 45 points on absurdly good efficiency while Scottie Pippen was a rookie who averaged 10 points on poor efficiency.

This narrative is so played out and such a weak comeback. 

[Roy Hinojosa]

12 minutes ago, EHoff99 said:

CJ, please tell me you don't actually think this is a good argument. 

1988 first round, MJ averaged 45 points on absurdly good efficiency while Scottie Pippen was a rookie who averaged 10 points on poor efficiency.

This narrative is so played out and such a weak comeback. 

Don't you remember those LeBron championships that he won all by himself? Oh yeah, he had to leave to win a championship with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. 

Remember that game winner LeBron hit? No? That's right he didn't want the game winner so he passed it to Ray Allen instead.

I'm sure Kyrie had no bearing on that Cleveland championship. Oh yeah, he did. Hell, if it wasn't for Kyrie, LeBron doesn't beat the Warriors. 

I would argue LeBron is overrated, and yeah I would rather have Jordan and Kobe.

[MarkInAustin]

If I had to pick six guys in their prime to play one professional 48 minute game They would be Wilt, Timmy, Bird, MJ, West and LeBron.

LeBron because he makes substitution possible at every position.  In his prime he was able to defend five positions as well as play offense at all five.

This is a different question than "who was the greatest", really.  For me that was either MJ or Wilt, take your pick.  But the six I named would out rebound, out defend, and out score any other six you could put on the court, more times than not, even if your next six were also all time greats. 

[BootHorn08]

3 hours ago, Roy Hinojosa said:

Don't you remember those LeBron championships that he won all by himself? Oh yeah, he had to leave to win a championship with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. 

Remember that game winner LeBron hit? No? That's right he didn't want the game winner so he passed it to Ray Allen instead.

I'm sure Kyrie had no bearing on that Cleveland championship. Oh yeah, he did. Hell, if it wasn't for Kyrie, LeBron doesn't beat the Warriors. 

I would argue LeBron is overrated, and yeah I would rather have Jordan and Kobe.

1. Lebron had 13 straight points that led up to the Ray Allen shot

2. He took the shot and missed Bosh rebounded and passed it to Allen

3. Kyrie was huge in that GSW series definitely doesn’t win without him but without lebrons block Kyrie doesn’t have that shot

[Roy Hinojosa]

16 minutes ago, BootHorn08 said:

1. Lebron had 13 straight points that led up to the Ray Allen shot

2. He took the shot and missed Bosh rebounded and passed it to Allen

3. Kyrie was huge in that GSW series definitely doesn’t win without him but without lebrons block Kyrie doesn’t have that shot

My point is that LeBron is not a clutch player when it matters. There wouldn't be this debate if LeBron hits the game winner instead of Ray Allen.