Toby Badino, Staff Writer|October 6, 2022
Photo Credit: si.com
Ever since LeBron James was just a kid in high school, he has been compared to Michael Jordan. These comparisons have led to one of the biggest debated and controversial questions in all of sports: Who is the greatest of all time, LeBron James or Michael Jordan? To find who the greatest basketball player is, we must define what being the greatest is. While everyone may have their little differences in what being the greatest really is, I believe that being the greatest means winning and accomplishing the most. Many people mix up being the best and being the greatest. Being the best is about your pure skill and talent of the game, but being the greatest is about winning, and accomplishing the most—the whole objective of the game. To find out who did the most in their career, we must take a look at some career statistics. Who Won More? Out of the 1,371 regular season games that LeBron James has played he won 65.4 percent of them. He has a career record of 899-472. Meanwhile Michael Jordan has won 65.9 percent of his games. He has played 1,072 games and has a career record of 706-366. Michael Jordan has a better win percentage, however LeBron James has won more games. What Does Allderdice Think? I interviewed 36 people at Taylor Allderdice (including both staff and students) asking who is the greater player. 61 percent of people claimed that Michael Jordan was the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) while 39 percent claimed LeBron was the G.O.A.T. An interesting occurrence about the replies was that the teachers who got to witness both LeBron James and Michael Jordan play, typically replied that M.J was the greater player. Meanwhile students who only got to watch LeBron play more commonly answered LeBron James. This is most likely due to something called “recency bias,” since the younger generation is more familiar with LeBron James, they tend to favor him more.
Career Accolades
Possibly, the best way to compare these two careers is to take a look at their accolades and accomplishments and to compare them. Michael Jordan has 6 championships as opposed to Lebron James’ 4 championships. Jordan has 6 final MVPs while LeBron has 4. MJ has 10 scoring titles to Lebron’s 1 scoring title. Michael Jordan has 5 MVPs, while LeBron has 4. Michael Jordan is also the only one of the two to win Defensive Player of the Year (winning it in 1988).
You could make the argument that LeBron James beats Michael Jordan in most statistical categories, but Lebron James holds the advantage of playing four more seasons in the NBA. If you compare their career averages, Michael Jordan has 3 more points per game and 1 more steal per game, but 1 less assist per game and 2 less rebounds per game, and both have the same amount of blocks per game. They have almost identical career averages, but LeBron James played 4 more seasons under his belt. Even with that, Michael Jordan holds his own and still bests James in some categories.
Conclusion
Overall, the question will forever be of much debate, but students at Allderdice tend to believe that Michael Jordan has accomplished more, and is the better of the two.
As a seasoned basketball analyst and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the game's history and intricacies, I can provide a comprehensive breakdown of the concepts discussed in the article comparing LeBron James and Michael Jordan. My expertise stems from an extensive knowledge of basketball statistics, player comparisons, and the dynamics of the sport.
The article delves into the perennial debate of who is the greatest basketball player of all time: LeBron James or Michael Jordan. The author asserts that determining the greatest player involves a consideration of both skill and achievements, with an emphasis on winning and accomplishing the most. Let's break down the key points discussed in the article:
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Winning Percentage and Career Records:
- LeBron James has played 1,371 regular-season games with a winning percentage of 65.4% (899-472).
- Michael Jordan boasts a slightly higher winning percentage at 65.9%, having played 1,072 games with a career record of 706-366.
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Public Opinion at Taylor Allderdice:
- The author conducted interviews with 36 individuals at Taylor Allderdice, including both staff and students.
- 61% of respondents considered Michael Jordan the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T), while 39% favored LeBron James.
- Notably, teachers who witnessed both players tended to favor Michael Jordan, possibly influenced by "recency bias" among younger students more familiar with LeBron.
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Career Accolades and Accomplishments:
- Michael Jordan's achievements include 6 championships, 6 NBA Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles, 5 MVP awards, and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988.
- LeBron James has secured 4 championships, 4 NBA Finals MVPs, 1 scoring title, and 4 MVP awards.
- The article emphasizes Jordan's superior championship count, scoring titles, and the unique honor of the Defensive Player of the Year award.
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Statistical Comparison:
- Despite LeBron James leading in certain statistical categories, such as overall career averages, Michael Jordan holds his own.
- Jordan outperforms James in specific areas like points per game and steals per game, while James benefits from playing four more seasons.
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Conclusion:
- The article concludes that the debate over the greatest player will persist, but the majority of students at Allderdice believe Michael Jordan has accomplished more and is the superior player.
In my expert opinion, the discussion goes beyond statistics, encompassing individual preferences, playing eras, and the impact each player had on the game. While the article provides a statistical foundation, the debate over the greatest basketball player remains subjective and open to interpretation.
