Michael Jordan Versus LeBron James: Who Is the GOAT?

Jordan had better free throws than James, according to your article. James needs to work on free throws. Jordan was trained by Coach Smith, a solid coach; James skipped that.

Your article says Jordan had less skilled players around him; James went and found the talent as needed. Superb management doesn't make a team better. Basketball is a team sport. It's up to the players. Jordan often said there is no "i" in "team." I don't think that will ever come from James' mouth.

Jordan left because of personal reasons, not because of financial gain. If he hadn't left, Chicago probably would have had seven rings. Leaving is not leaving. One is less dignified. Selfishness on the part of James does not equal personal tragedy. We shouldn't minimize that.

James is in the era of selfishness.

This was interesting. I don't think James could handle the Bad Boys of Detroit. They really went after Jordan. Not to mention, James did something Jordan never did: team hopped. Jordan once said he never wanted to go play with people like Bird, just simply beat them. James builds super teams while Jordan made the team he was with better. Apparently, leadership was a minor consideration in your article.

Jordan was an innovator in the place where he worked; James takes the show to the highest bidder. Truly, Jordan was a much better player than James regardless of any stats.

By the way, Jordan credits Coach Dean Smith for emphasizing free throws at UNC- Chapel Hill, I wonder if James had spent more time working with people like Coach K. during those Olympic Games, would his free throw percentage had improved? I wonder if James had stepped up on defense, could he had handled Tim Duncan and that incredible Spurs dynasty. I'm not sure. But James said the Spurs was the toughest defensive team he played against. Coach Pop was no joke. I enjoyed your well written piece, living through all of these changes in the NBA.

WTF kind of article takes a trash ESPN stat and use it to argue Lebron is more clutch? Who in their right mind would ever take Lebron to take the final shot over Jordan? WHAT?

One other point, look at the HOFers in the Finals, Lebron is 10-20 against these guys. Plus he has losing records against all but Westbrook and Harden (1-0) and Kawhi (1-1). I would even be willing to take away Lebron's first Finals in 2007 when he was evidently outmatched. Lebron is still 10-17 against HOFers. Lebron in his prime could not hold a candle to MJ. Not to mention, Klay and Draymond are by no means shoe-ins for the HOF, nor are Rose or Billups. There are similar contemporaries in Jordan's era to these guys.

Rose = young Ron Harper or Penny,

Billups = Kevin Johnson, Tim Hardaway or Mark Price

Klay and Butler = Glen Rice, Eddie Jones or Steve Smith

Draymond = Well, he is unique and hard to truly compare to others, but similarity scores would consider Webber and Cliff Robinson to be good comparisons.

You also failed to mention, HOFers MJ faced in Eastern Conference like Divac (Lakers and Hornets), Moncrieff (Bucks), Chris Mullins (Pacers) and Mo Cheeks (Knicks) or potential HOFers that Lebron has played with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

The rules changes are a major difference, but the biggest thing I see from your comparisons is you taking others (including ESPN's faulty "clutch" stat) and take them at face value instead of reviewing the actual numbers yourself contextually. Lebron's 34% 3PT percentage is slightly better than MJ's (33%), but he plays when the avg. is 35% whereas MJ played when it was 33%. So, Lebron is slightly worse contextually than Jordan. Lebron is in no way a better "shooter" than Jordan since Lebron regularly takes more than 1/3 of his shots within 3ft. I do not knock Lebron for taking high percentage shots, but you can say that he only exceeds MJ's shooting percentage by 0.7%, while converting so many dunks and layups. You would not say Shaq is a better shooter than Lebron since he has a better FG% while taking so many more shots within 3 ft. I would not expect you to. You also have to look at when they played to understand the context rebounds by Lebron in this era compared to Jordan in the 80s and 90s. Westbrook averages 7.1 rebounds a game without worry for repercussions in the paint, slightly less than that of Lebron at 7.4.

Now, Lebron is not nearly the defensive stopper that MJ was. Lebron regularly rests on defense, when MJ was almost always one of the best defender in the league. The situation is not even close.

Statistically, Lebron only leads MJ in three of the eight traditional statistics, 3PT% rebounds and assists. So, how is Lebron "statistically" a better player? As stated above, the 3PT% contextually by their era is in favor of MJ and the FG% is less than 1% difference. That is a negligible delta. Lebron is the better passer and is a productive rebounder, but isn't even close on FT% and points. The steals are a bit better for MJ and 50% greater than that for Lebron, the blocks are marginally better, so can look at it the same as FG% being negligibly different.

Finally, this whole idea that Lebron plays in a stronger league and has been part of the "second best team" regularly since he is losing in the Finals is ridiculous. They changed the playoff seeding and structure because of the strength of the Western Conference in the late 2000s to early 2010s. Regularly, the top two teams in the NBA played each other before the conference finals (e.g. 2006 Mavs and Spurs). Look at the 2007 (Spurs/Suns), 2014 (Spurs/Thunder), 2017 (Warriors/Spurs) and 2018 (Warriors/Rockets) Western Conference finals, the better teams were those facing off in the Western Conference. Lebron rarely faced off against difficult Eastern Conference opponents. Lebron may have faced more great dynasties in the Finals, but that is because the Bulls WERE the dynasty.

One major factor you conveniently left out is that the rules of the NBA have changed drastically. When MJ played, you could practically punch a player in the face and not get a foul call. Nowadays, you get called for touching another player with your fingertip. That makes a huge difference in how agressive you can be.

good night friend, i'm from brazil and i loved your article, i would like to know if you give me permission to translate this content and spread only a section on my twitter, is there a problem? I will give you the credits

Biased doesn't even begin to describe what this article is. Example, u said and I quote

"Jordan won more games and thus has a greater overall record in the Finals. On an individual performance level, however, LeBron excels in more categories than Jordan in both their regular-season careers and Finals." But when I checked the stat sheet you put up as sample, Jordan beats LeBron 6-3 in the categories. How does this reflect that LeBron excel in more categories.

Word of advice if you feel LeBron is better than Jordan that's fine by me but don't put up stats and then quote the opposite.

You said LeBron is a better all round player and to me that is not true. I know you say that because LeBron averages more rebound and assist but that doesn't make him a better all round player. Remember assist, pts and offensive rebounds all make up a player's offense while blocks, steals and defensive rebound makes up a player's defense. Jordan is a better offensively and defensively hence is better all round play than LeBron.

I can go on and on about why your article is biased but I don't think it will change your opinion (which you have a right to) so I will say enjoy your opinion but don't throw it to the masses like it's facts.

This article is so bias. Even the polls beg to differ. Jordan is the G.O.A.T. Jordan didn't need a superteam to win championships, while Lebron desperately needed them to win a championship. And the way Jordan just made his opponents look silly, will forever be unmatched by any player. Lebron can and will never be Jordan, no matter how he finishes his career. Just look at your polls. J.O.R.D.A.N. is the best. It's not even a close argument to put Lebum in the same sentence as Jordan. It's insulting.

Vlade Divac is in the hall of fame. He played with magic and worthy. Michael faced 5 hall of famers in the celtics. Bird, Mchale, Johnson, Walton, Parish. Lebron pooped the bed in 2011. Michael would never let jason terry out score him or anyone out score him for an entire series. In one year MJ won the steals title, dunk title, mvp, scoring title, dpoy title and all star game mvp. Hes the better all around player. LBJ has longevity stats. He hasn't made a defensive first team in how long? Also take into account this era allows players to play a lot longer.

Jordan did lose to the Celtics , but he posted 49 and 63 against them , the bulls had Jordan and sticks with him ..your stats show him losing, but they don't put the series in context , 8th vs 1st seed, misses almost the entire season , Celtics had a great roster and Jordan forced overtime . .. numbers are nothing if not placed into context.. this is own example of many...

Yes Lebron is GOAT but MJ is GOD

Interesting piece Jesse and some valid points, although I get the sense that you might get a bit lost in the details of the stats --- I think it's especially tricky comparing stats from different eras without doing an incredibly extensive analysis of all stats across eras. However, when it comes to LBJ and MJ, big picture, one has 6 titles and one has 3 titles, and given bball is such an individualist game, it's hard to go past that, especially as many of their overall stats (esp PER) are so similar (I realise the rejoinder might be the Bill Russell argument, but I don't think you even have him in your top 10 players).

I would like to see an adjustment that is use in baseball taking in consideration the baseball park. I'd like to see that adjustment in terms of defense and offense between Jordan time and Lebron time. It was difficult to score 100 in those days, now it is usual to see team scoring 100 plus. Lebron scoring would be lower and Jordan scoring would be higher, the same would apply for shooting %...Can you make that analisys?

PER takes into account every major statistic in basketball. Scoring, rebounding, steals, assists, etc... Jordan not only has a higher rating than LeBron for his career, but his playoff PER creates and even wider gap between him and LeBron. Jordan’s PER shows he was a better all-around player. Also, LeBron has never made a game tying or go ahead shot to clinch a game, while facing elimination, or even in the NBA finals in the last 24 seconds of a game. Jordan is 10-17.

Lebron has actually beat most of the hall of famers in the playoffs jordan didnt

look do not get me wrong but lebron james is the goat,in all the finals in which he appeared in which are 9 most of them the reason why he lost was because he was unevenly matched with teams.2007 was going against a superteam that were spurs,mavericks it was his first year,they were still learning to get along.And in the Warriors matchup it was unfair

Jordan won the chip with a 55 win team. LeBron went to the finals with 20 win teams

Simple fact Lebron has had to recruit and build his team full of allstars to win a ring MJ won six with 1 allstar teammate. not to mention you saying todays allstars dont compare with those of mj 's era (witch I agree with) sounds like MJ played in a much more talented leage

Can U imagine Jordan Pippen and lets say Ewing or Hakeem on the same team the way Lebron has had it the last 10 yrs they wouldnt lose

Lebron is the greatest player of all time.

It’s going to come down to how Lebron does in the postseason from now until he retires. No more rings and that’s a pretty rough argument. If he gets one or more it gets harder to debate.

I can't believe this is still being debated. I grew up a Jordan fan so you know where my vote lies. i will say that Jordan's legacy and continued relevance to the game by him being an owner makes it very difficult for Lebron to surpass hi. Koby retied and began faded out of this debate immediately. Michael changed the game with his play on the court and his branding of the Jordan name. A LEGEND is a bigger than life story. With Jordan's well deserved legendary status, it is very unlikely that the Easter bunny will ever surpass Santa Claus. Merry Christmas everyone. Oh, and for all Kobe fans, remember, there are tons of kids who still believe in the tooth fairly :)

Jesse Unk.... I am not comparing Phil Jackson to Eric Spoelstra. There is a clear gap in their legendary status at this time. My only point is with regards to playing with a legendary coaches. Jordan's ability to play at a high level had nothing to do with Phil Jackson. Jackson can take praise for creating the triangle offence, which helped Jordan. The 'Jordan Rules' was something which the triangle offence broke down. But again, this has nothing to do with Jordan's ability. The idea that LeBron is self taught and Jordan had great coaches is an excuse to try and make out that LeBron is superior. That is far from true

Jesse Unk....He excelled but you cannot call him a legend or a great coach at that time. He was still unproven. Erik Spoelstra has won titles with Lebron, yet no one calls him a legend after winning his two titles. They say Lebron won it for him (with Wade and Bosh). Yet like, Jordan, Lebron had no title until going meeting up with the Erik Spoelstra.

i think Jackson knew he had a winning formula and a one in a life time chance of working with Jordan. Pippen had a big part to play it all though, but eve though he excelled, using the excuse of a legendary coach cannot apply when Jordan won his titles. Jackson was nobody as a coach at that time

@Mitch Ross...Jordan had a great coach? Not at the time. Phil Jackson did not win nothing until he join Chicago. He was a legend by the time he went to LA, but he won nothing pre-Jordan. Jordan did not win pre-Jackson either, but Jordan's level of play was already at a high level. His peers already regarded him as better than them, but they knew that they had the better team. He just needed other players to step up (Pippen), and he benefitted from Jackson's philosophy.

Lebron is basically self taught; Jordan had great coaches!

Sorry, but I’m lost on the first breakdown of “Le Bron vs Michael Jordan Stats”. Even if I take those stats at face value (which I won’t), I still see Jordan at minimum ahead in 5 categories as opposed to 4, and then I’m giving the blocks to Jordan (a guy who’s 6 foot 6 and averaging the same number of blocks per game as a guy who’s 6 foot 8 is superior in that category, so if we have to split them they’re going to Jordan.

I’ve got a particular gripe with the stat of “Rebounds” though. Of all those stats, the one that can be most easily padded are “Defensive Rebounds”. C’mon let’s face it, a massive proportion of “Defensive” rebounds are just collecting the ball in free space while the opposing team are already down the other end setting up their defence. If we look at “Offensive” Rebounds, which are always contested, Jordan is substantially ahead with 1.6 vs 1.2 per game. So here we have a 6-6 guy who is taking down more “Offensive” Rebounds than a guy who’s 6-8. I’m giving Rebounds as a stat to Jordan!!

And why is it anyway that the only stats that anyone seems to focus on in these assessments are the first three, after which they always drift off into the same vague statement of “Le Bron is clearly a better all round player”. All around what?? There’s only two ends of the court and Jordan blocks more, he steals more, he scores more, he rebounds offensively more. Are we really saying that because of those flimsy Assists and Defensive Rebound stats that James is a better all round player??!!

Who did Jordan have on his team against the Celtics and Pistons dynastys the first couple of years?? I'll answer....a bunch of coke heads. For as good as you say Lebron makes his teams better, Lebron didn't even make the playoffs till his 3rd year!

Super biased analysis ill ever read..way off to compare with mj, in mj era lebron will be an average player only like d'wilkins..period..lebron aint no clutch especially in the big games..

I like Kobe Bryant... watched them all from Baylor to Lebron... I think physically and mentally Bryant is the GOAT.

I still had this window open when I went back to my iPad tonight and I glanced down to what you wrote. Did you just infer that Durant is better than Jordan? The dude who choked away a 3-1 lead and then went to play for the team who he choked it away against? Are you out of your f***ing mind? Lol I’m not mad, really... it’s just pretty absurd and tells me you didn’t watch the NBA in those days. Let me tell you something, son... replace Durant with Jordan and the Warriors aren’t going to the Finals that year. Jordan puts his foot on their neck and ends that sucka! :) C’mon, man! Get real!

I’ve seen both dudes play. Jordan was more dominant. Period. You can try and skew the argument in LBJ’s favor all you want. During the last five minutes of ball games, I’ve seen LBJ disappear in ways that MJ never did. Period. Case in point... 2010 Playoffs against the Celtics, 2011 Finals against the Mavs, 2013 Finals against the Spurs in Game 6 where he turned the ball over 3 times in the final 5 minutes of the game to hand the Spurs the trophy before they chocked it away by missing free throws and not getting a key rebound (why wasn’t Duncan on the floor? I’ll never know) - anyway, check the tape. And here are some facts... Grant/Pippen/Rodman combined for 10 All-Star appearances. Love/Irving/Wade/Bosh have 33.... so no, LBJ did not have less help than MJ. Want some more facts? I knew that you would! MJ - 6 Championships to LBJ’s 3, Finals MVPs 6 to 3, League MVPs 5 to 4, scoring titles 10 to 1, Defensive Player of the Year 1 to 0, steals titles 3 to 0. I mean, you can’t argue it away... Jordan was better. On top of all that, his prime efficiency stats were also better. Period. Done and done. Give it up, millennials! Lol

After watching LBJ lose yet another NBA Finals, and this hub popped up again, I thought Id strengthen my argument on MJ. The evolution of today's game is set up for LBJ to dominate. If MJ played in today's game, he would still dominate. MJ never had the spacing LBJ has, 3 point shooters weren't as good or abundant as they are now, defense is basically outlawed, no hand checking, physicality is rarely allowed, with LBJ's size, speed and athleticism he's virtually unstoppable. MJ never had stretch 4 & 5's to pull the rim protector away from the basket leaving the lane open to do as he pleased, and MJ never had the offensive fire power LBJ has had along side him in Kyrie, Wade, Love, Bosh. The best MJ had was Pippen, who initially was a defensive stopper, his offensive was slowly developed. The 8 straight finals appearances are grossly over rated, the eastern conference has been like the CBA since the fall of the Celtics and D Rose led Bulls, LBJ doesn't even face a real team until he gets to the finals....and hence why the 3-6 record. LBJ is the most physically gifted player ever....but not even close to being the GOAT.

Great article and awesome stastical analysis of both players and the league. I've been wanting to this myself for sometime glad you beat me to it.

I didnt realize Jordan was 1-5 against the Celtics and Pistons. People always talk about how he had to play those great guys, and he never even won! He was beating up Patrick Ewing and Barkley who arent even top 20 guys! Good article!

Thank you now I have knowlegde

Are you kidding me. MJ played with 1 all star and won 6 titles. Lebron keeps complaining he needs more help and that his team is top heavy as bleep. MJ never did any recruiting or complaining, imagine if he did what Lebron does, they would have won every year getting all the best players and forcing management to cater to his every thought or desire.

While this is a pretty good analysis and growing up in Chicago and being a Bulls fan since before MJ, When Artis Gilmore and Orlando Woolridge were the Alphas, my opinion might be a little biased. I agree that Lebron is an all around better player, makes the players around him better, however since when do moral victories count? winning more in the playoffs versus winning in the Finals, when it counts the most. I think MJ is the Goat simply because of his heart, his will to win, that "Killer intinct", something Lebron does not have/never had. Their were rules made up to stop MJ, hand checking, manhandling was perfectly legal and he was mugged on the court pretty much every night. Lebron has had much more talent around him in Miami and this second stint with Cleveland and I'm pretty sure Horace Grant is not in the Hall of Fame.