King James Gospel
Fansided

LeBron James Is Better Than Michael Jordan

By Quenton S. Albertie

May 17, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts prior to game one of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts prior to game one of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during overtime of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 114-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during overtime of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 114-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Level of Competition

Though Jordan was a dominant scorer, there were others who were close every year such as James Worthy, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone.

While Michael Jordan later became the legend he is in the NBA, at various points in his career he has had rivals for greatest player in the league including Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, and for a short time Charles Barkley.

All but one played in the West, so it’s apparent there was still a lack of parity between conferences even back then. There was also the case of him being unable to beat the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons and Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics early in his career.

In the playoffs, their toughest competition was the Reggie Miller-Jalen Rose Indiana Pacers, Patrick Ewing’s New York Knicks and our Brad Daugherty-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the East.

LeBron James simply doesn’t have to face the same amount of all-around great players and toughest defenses because the amount of superstar talent has lowered as a generation headed by him and Kobe is slowly leaving the NBA to Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Anthony Davis among others.

However, he’s had rivalries with a deep Detroit Pistons squad, the ‘Big Three’ Boston Celtics, the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic.

He’s also constantly been in a conference with fellow top-five draftees Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade and played against Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady in their prime. The Chicago Bulls also pitted pre-injury MVP Derrick Rose on a consistent basis.

In the NBA Finals, LeBron has faced the San Antonio Spurs dynasty three times and went 1-2. He’s faced the Dallas Mavericks and lost. He faced the Oklahoma City Thunder and won. He’s faced the Golden State Warriors twice and went 1-1.

In 2015, his top two wingmen went down before the end of Game 1 in the NBA Finals as they faced eventual back-to-back MVP and 73-win Stephen Curry.

In 2013, best friend Dwyane Wade knees were so shot he was missing layups by the rim, and Bosh was basically 2016 Finals Kevin Love.

In 2011, LeBron took less shots and free throws than Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and Wade eventually admitted to achieve success that he had to concede control of the team to LeBron.

In 2007, lets just say beating that Spurs team with that Cavs team could have been arguably more impressive than the NBA Finals championship he just won.

In the year’s he won, LeBron James led every player in every statistic against the 73-9 team that set a record for regular season wins against a two-time MVP, recently unanimous, that many were saying was better than him in 2016 while delivering upon his promise of bringing the Cleveland Cavaliers their first championship.

His second in command, Kyrie Irving, averaged 27.1 points per game and two absolutely historic performances.

In 2013, LeBron faced a great Spurs team again but this time with scoring assistance from Wade and the most memorable three of Ray Allen’s career in Game 6 taking the game to overtime and he took over from there.

In 2012, he had even more help from Wade against a Thunder team featuring Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden and this one he won with the most ease (4-1).

In 1991, Jordan won against an exemplary Los Angeles Lakers team with Magic Johnson, Vlade Divac, James Worthy and Sam Perkins for his first title and led the team to that win. The next year, Jordan won against a team featuring Clyde Drexler who he outplayed on both ends.

The next year gave Jordan his toughest challenge as it came against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. In all three of these Finals, Scottie Pippen averaged more than 20 points per game.

In the first  three-peat, Jordan arguably just had the far superior team except in his first Finals against the then Showtime Lakers.

Returning in 1996, Jordan led his team to a win against the Gary Payton-led Seattle Supersonics though the game-winner belonged to Steve Kerr, the next year he and (20 ppg from Scottie Pippen) beat Karl Malone’s Utah Jazz, a year before beating the sane Jazz team largely due to his own will.

The Conclusion

Jordan frankly played good teams but none that were dynasty level or even featured two dominant scorers aside from the Showtime Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

James’ accomplishments due pale in comparison on the surface, but a deeper look shows dominance by Jordan perhaps, but an easier path to do so as well.

However, the idea that the league is watered-down holds substance in that Jordan played against many superstar talents compared to today’s NBA.

Yet the transition between generational superstars mean many of the old guard have competed with LeBron already and many of the new guard will firmly reach superstardom as the attempt to dethrone the King for best player in the NBA.

Next: The Guys In The Foxhole