LeBron James Is Better Than Michael Jordan

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June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and forward Kevin Love (0) celebrate the 93-89 and series victory against the Golden State Warriors following game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Team Comparison

Michael Jordan’s teams featured two future Hall of Famers at all time. His ever-ready second-in-command Pippen was a seven-time All-Star and an All-Star before they won their first championship together.

He won the All-Star Game MVP while Jordan was playing baseball in a time when the competition was taken seriously and from 1992-99 was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, highlighted with his performance as NBA steals leader in 1995.

His third of the Big Three was seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team, and two-time Defensive player of the year Dennis Rodman or four-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team and 1994 All-Star Horace Grant.

LeBron had been backed by Larry Hughes (All-Defensive First Team and NBA steals leader in 2005) then Zydranaus Ilgauskus (two-time NBA All-Star), then Dwyane Wade (2006 Finals MVP, 2009 NBA scoring champion,12-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team), and now Kyrie Irving (2012 Rookie of the Year, three-time NBA All-Star, and 2014 FIBA World Cup MVP).

His other “help”: Drew Gooden, Delonte West, Chris Bosh (11-time NBA All-Star), then Kevin Love (three-time NBA All-Star and 2010-11 Most Improved Player).

The Conclusion

The reality is that until very recently LeBron has never had teammates as good as Jordan and that arguably they both don’t accomplish winning an NBA championship on their own.

I chose to look past the stats and at their accolades for this comparison because it gives clarity to the conversation. All-Star teammates came for LeBron later in his career and All-Star All-Defensive teammates remained in Jordan’s career throughout.

What else matters is Phil Jackson coaching Jordan and having 11 rings to his six, which goes to show you just how great the Zen Master’s triangle scheme was.

LeBron has been coached by Paul Silas, Mike Brown, Erik Spoelstra, David Blatt, and Tyronn Lue and of the five only one was significantly experienced. Those five have three rings in total.

Next: Roll The Highlights!