LeBron vs. Jordan: The G.O.A.T. Showdown

The debate on who is the greatest basketball player of all time never seems to be dying down. From the early days of the game, each generation raises new players who redefine the game.

His Airness, Michael Jordan, has reigned for three decades, but a lot has changed in the league since. Despite the two players being friendly, LeBron vs. Jordan debates are fierce among the fans.

People who followed Jordan’s career in actual time believe he is the G.O.A.T. due to the competition he had, the stats that skyrocketed from his first season, and the six rings he gained in his six NBA finals.

Some fans claim that King James came into the NBA just when things got more demanding. Among top players such as Kevin Durant, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, and plenty more, LeBron managed to stand out as one of the best overall players to ever play in the league. In 2022, Forbes announced that Lebron James is the first person to become a billionaire while being an active NBA player.

So, how can we rank these two titans side by side? Since there is no way to see them go head to head while in their primes, it’s safe to say we might never have a universal agreement on the G.O.A.T of basketball.

However, we can analyze the statistics, look at the challenges, accomplishments, and legacy, and provide you with something more to ponder.

The Background

Michael Jordan joined the NBA in 1984 as the third overall pick for the Chicago Bulls. In his first year, Jordan led the Bulls to the playoffs. He also made the All-Rookie team, gained the Rookie of the Year Award and the All-Star status, and was on the All-NBA Second Team.

He won his first three rings with the Bulls, retired, played a bit of baseball, came back, and won three more rings before retiring again, only to come back for two more seasons with the Washington Wizards.

Watching the games of Michael Jordan, LeBron James grew up idolizing his older counterpart. Upon joining the NBA, he analyzed Jordan’s game style, wore Air Jordans, and even chose the iconic number 23 for his jersey.

Over time, LeBron developed his own style of play that decidedly differs from Jordan’s. LeBron is not as aggressive and is more comfortable with playing in a team, showcased by his exceptional leadership.

To get closer to determining who the actual NBA G.O.A.T. is, we must look at the results and the circumstances that led to them.

LeBron vs. Jordan: Career Stats

Michael Jordan played in the NBA for a total of 15 seasons, but some fans count only 13 seasons he played for the Bulls as this is where he delivered his best results. He took a hiatus twice but returned both times after a while. If we were to look at the statistics of both players’ first 13 seasons, Jordan would come out on top.

We’ve provided a list of average points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game in all of Jordan’s and LeBron’s first 13 seasons:

LeBron, when compared to Jordan, is a better rebounder and much better with assists. This confirms that he is better at playing in a team and using his team’s strengths to his advantage.

Jordan, on the other hand, was a significantly better scorer, holding several records in that area of play. Furthermore, you never knew when or where he might pop up to steal the ball. In terms of blocking, Jordan was slightly better, just enough to give him the upper hand.

Jordan’s fans might choose to stop here and crown him the G.O.A.T. However, there are more in-depth stats worth looking at in the first 13 seasons:

LeBron is better than MJ as a three-pointer and is more likely to score regardless of where he is on the field.

In addition, LeBron is very good with assists, so it’s only natural for him to play as a part of the team. On the contrary, Jordan was often the one to show off while being double- or even triple-teamed, which may have crippled his statistics.

LeBron vs. Jordan: Clutch Stats

The ability to take the lead and carry your team to victory is another characteristic of a great player. Helping the team through when in the clutch may just be what separates the champions from other players.

Plenty of fans who witnessed Jordan’s rule will tell you that he is one of the most clutch players to ever play the game. His will to win was so compulsive that it became common to keep the focus on him as the game was coming to an end. Another thing that makes Jordan the G.O.A.T. is that he almost always takes it upon himself to win the game.

Within the first ten seasons of their careers, Jordan was 6-of-10 (60%) in the clutch in the postseason, while James was 7-of-16 (43.8%).

LeBron’s clutch stats were still well above the league’s average for that year. The NBA average on clutch shots in 2013 was 28.3%, putting LeBron at 15.5% points above.

Throughout his career, Jordan’s stats show a 50% success rate in clutch shots, while LeBron, for now, has a 29.6%. LeBron is in his 19th season and shows no signs of slowing down.

It’s easy to say Lebron has no “clutch gene” looking at the success rate of his shots in the closing minutes of the game. Still, his overall performance does push the whole team forward, making it less likely for the team to need to be rescued.

LeBron vs. Jordan: Playoff Stats

LeBron’s field goal percentage stands at 49.6%, with 33.5% being from beyond the arc. Jordan, however, had a field goal percentage of 48.7% and 33.2% outside the three-point line.

LeBron vs. Jordan: Finals’ Stats

Jordan has played 35 game-finals. LeBron has, up until now, played 55. We can compare the overall result and include all 90 games, but it might not be fair as LeBron’s stats change with the additional 20 games. If you are still interested in seeing that comparison, you can check it out here.

When comparing each player’s first 35 games, the stats are as follows:

Jordan seems to be a better all-around player, solidifying his position as the basketball G.O.A.T. When looking at the 35 games played in the finals, Michael Jordan’s stats are not significantly better than LeBron’s.

Since LeBron is still active, his numbers keep improving, and it would be unfair to compare those stats with Jordan’s since Jordan’s career has ended.

Why Is LeBron Better Than MJ?

LeBron is a better shooter from two- and three-point range and undoubtedly a much better passer and rebounder than Jordan, especially during the playoffs and the finals.

Compared to Michael Jordan, LeBron James plays in a more challenging league. When Jordan was still playing, at least six teams were still in the growing phase and weren’t as much of a competition as they are now.

LeBron was and is surrounded by a lot more talented teammates, people who are superstars in their own right. We’re talking about members of the All-Star teams and players introduced to the Hall of Fame: players such as Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wayde, Kyrie Irving, and Russell Westbrook.

LeBron also played and won against some of the greatest names to play the game. He’s been head-to-head with Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and pre-injury Derrick Rose.

Why Is Jordan Better Than LeBron?

Jordan is, without a doubt, a better scorer than LeBron, a fact that is more notable in the playoffs than during the regular season. He has a slight advantage over LeBron in terms of steals and blocks and is a far better scorer from the free-throw line.

It’s often said that Jordan played in a weaker league than LeBron. However, Jordan shared his time in the NBA with names like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Charles Barkley.

Jordan also spent almost an entire career with one team, wearing a Chicago Bulls jersey for 13 seasons.

On the other hand, many are slandering LeBron for switching teams as often as he did. NBA fans are known to blame LeBron for searching for a team to win championships instead of building one, which significantly adds to the G.O.A.T. debate.

The Chicago Bulls from the Jordan era are considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history. In the season of 1995/1996, the Bulls held a win/loss record of 72-10. It was such a dominant score that it took 20 years for the Golden State Warriors to set a new one with 73-9.

And the icing on the cake – Jordan collected more career accolades than LeBron in their first 13 seasons. A lot more.

In the later season of his career, LeBron made the All-Star team six more times, the All-NBA team 5 more times, and acquired one more Finals MVP award.

Who is Better: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

So finally, who is better – LeBron or Jordan? If we consider Lebron’s whole career, he is statistically a better player. LeBron is on the same level Jordan was in his prime, but LeBron’s prime seems to last longer, a fact we can only be thankful for as it allows us to observe how the game and players have evolved.

LeBron is, by far, the greatest player of his time, but is he the greatest NBA player of all time? The answer may just depend on who you ask. Some people believe LeBron James is the G.O.A.T., while others stand by Michael Jordan.

Whether your answer is Jordan or LeBron, it’s up to each fan to decide who they think is best at the end of the day.