LeBron James Is Better Than Michael Jordan

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June 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) during the first half in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Statistics

Jordan was in the league for 15 years and took 3 years off before his final two seasons and a year off between the Chicago Bulls repeat three-peat years.

LeBron has been in the league for 13 years and a two-week stretch he had to use to rest his back in 2015 is the longest he’s been away from basketball in-season.

NBA Regular Season Averages

Michael Jordan – 30.1 ppg/ 6.2 rpg/ 5.3 apg/ 2.1 spg / .8 bpg/ 2.7 turnovers per game/ 2.6 fouls per game/ 49.7% FG taking 22.9 FGA per game, 32.7% 3P taking 1.7 3PA per game, 83.5% FT taking 8.2 foul shots per game, 56.9% eFG

LeBron James – 27.2 ppg/ 7.2 rpg/ 6.9 apg/ 1.7 spg / .8 bpg/ 3.4 turnovers per game/ 1.9 fouls per game/ 49.8% FG taking 19.7 FGA per game, 34.0% 3P taking 4.0 3PA per game, 74.4% FT taking 8.3 foul shots per game, 58.1% TS

NBA Playoff Averages

Michael Jordan – 33.4 ppg/ 6.4 rpg/ 5.7 apg/ 2.1 spg/ .9 bpg/ 3.1 turnovers per game/ 3.0 fouls per game/ 48.7% FG taking 25.1 FGA per game, 33.2% 3P taking 2.5 3PA per game, 82.8% FT taking 9.9 foul shots per game, 56.7% TS

LeBron James – 28.0 ppg/ 8.8 rpg/ 6.8 apg/ 1.8 spg / .9 bpg/ 3.5 turnovers per game/ 2.4 fouls per game/ 47.8% FG taking 20.7 FGA per game, 32.1% 3P taking 4.5 3PA per game, 74.6% FT taking 9.1 foul shots per game, 56.8% TS

NBA Finals Averages

Michael Jordan – 33.6 ppg/ 6.0 rpg/ 6.0 apg/ 1.8 spg/ .66 bpg/ 2.4 turnovers per game/ 2.9 fouls per game/ 48.1% FG taking 26.1 FGA per game, 36.0% 3P taking 2.5 3PA per game, 80.1% FT taking 9.1 foul shots per game, 56.2% TS

LeBron James – 27.2 ppg/ 9.7 rpg/ 7 apg/ 1.8 spg/ .93 bpg/ 4 turnovers per game/ 3 fouls per game/ 46.9% FG on 26.4 FGA per game, 32% 3P on 2.3 3PA per game, 74.4% FT taking 6.9 foul shots per game, 54.3% TS

The Conclusion

What the stats say, basically is that these two were similar but LeBron the better rebounder, playmaker, and shooter of the two. Defensively, they were equal. Jordan took more shots so had more points.

He took more as the pressure went up, just as LeBron, though the latter averaged less points, free throws, and threes. He went to the midrange more due to defensive scheming that was daring him to play to his weakest strength.

Referring to this article could be helpful in determining why the genius of LeBron left him in these Catch 22s in which he’s confounded by if it’s a better decision to be a playmaker in these moments and get the ball to a lesser player with a better shot or to shoot an open shot that he hasn’t mastered.

In 2007 and 2012, his first two Finals appearances, these were his issues. Since then he’s carried every team he’s been on in the Finals with tremendous play, after figuring out how to beat this scheme and get whatever shot he wants, an example of his growth and natural cerebral play.

In recent years, LeBron doesn’t draw calls too often because his desire to finesse around the rim has made him less likely to attack it with hostility through contact, though there are many times the foul just isn’t called due to what I’m beginning to determine is the “King Kong effect.”

You’re shooting him with .50 caliber bullets, flying planes at him, stabbing at him with knives and it’s overkill as the behemoth roars from the Empire State Building. Yet, it doesn’t look so bad that you’re doing that because he’s so big.

That’s the same way the casual NBA fan–and referees–perceive the contact on LeBron.

Jordan meanwhile knocked down more deep shots though it wasn’t his strength but what really enhanced his game in the Finals was doling out more assists to teammates.

Being the playmaker LeBron is now is how Steve Kerr ended up taking the shot to win the 1996 NBA Finals and the All-Star Scottie Pippen (6-0 in the NBA Finals).

Next: What They Were Up Against