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Throwback Thursday: LeBron James Stares Down Michael Jordan

By Jackson Flickinger

Oct 14, 2015, Shanghai, China; Charlotte Hornets principal owner Michael Jordan watches first half action against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Danny La-USA Today Sports
Oct 14, 2015, Shanghai, China; Charlotte Hornets principal owner Michael Jordan watches first half action against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Danny La-USA Today Sports /
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With the recent revelation that LeBron James is chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan, it’s fitting we look back at the time he stared down Jordan mid-dunk.

LeBron James has been living in Michael Jordan‘s shadow ever since he entered the league. Part of that is his own doing and part of that isn’t. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, LeBron revealed that he is motivated by chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan.

While we have always known that LeBron is striving for greatness, this is one of the first times we’ve publicly heard James acknowledge that he is driven to be mentioned in the conversation as the greatest of all-time. With that in mind, it’s only fitting that we look back to the time LeBron actually stared down greatness.

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LeBron and the Miami Heat played the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the 2014 playoffs. LeBron was coming off of back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs at the time. James and the Heat had dominated the series the first two games and were looking to take a 3-0 stranglehold of the series in Charlotte.

Game 3 proved to be just like the previous two games of the series. The Bobcats were no match for a much superior Miami team. With the Heat holding a sizable 17-point lead near the end of the third quarter, James stole the ball and finished off one of his patented one-handed slams. Except this time he stared down His Airness throughout his breakaway slam.

LeBron would finish the game with 30 points, 10 boards, and six assists. The Heat went on to sweep Charlotte before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Besides the stare down, LeBron has gone out of his way to show respect to Jordan. He wore 23 throughout high school, starting his sophomore year, and his first seven years in the NBA to honor Jordan. James decided to switch his number to six for the 2010 season to pay tribute to Jordan before switching it back to 23.

While LeBron has repeatedly taken the high road when it comes to comparisons with Jordan, the same cannot be said about His Airness. Jordan has gone out of his way repeatedly to put down LeBron. For example, he was critical of LeBron’s decision to go to Miami, he said he’d take Kobe over LeBron, and he even recently said he doesn’t want him in Space Jam 2.

We’ll see how this relationship evolves over time as LeBron reaches the end of his career, but so far Jordan hasn’t handled a rival to his throne with much respect. Instead he has become the personification of the Crying Jordan Memes.

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Time will tell if LeBron ever does chase down the ghost of Jordan. Until then we will be left with this same passive-aggressive banter.