Nalod wrote:

tkf wrote:

Nalod wrote:

tkf wrote:SO LEBRON is better than Jordan? jeez, I heard it all now.... why do these discussions even come up... I thought it was universally excepted that MJ was the greatest player to ever live? now lebron is better... well how about the standard that MJ set... he 3 peated twice, and never, ever lost in the finals? scoring titles? mvp's? wow.. again, why are we having this discussion?

Briggs are you bored again? LOL

We have the discussions because............

We have the discussions! Now I am discussing the discussion.

So much is subjective. Michael and the flu-game. Saw something on TV a few weeks back that suggested Mike was hung over and did not sleep the nite before and they made up "Flu". Would that change anyones perception of the legend? What if Mike had a nervous breakdown and the reason he "stepped away"?

Two three peats are cool as hell. Could there have more? Why didn't he get to the finals before age 27? Was mike great on his own or did his team/coach provide the base for him to be great?

His body of work speaks for itself and his legend is very substantial.

Lebron at age 24 took a team to the finals. Did he quit? For what reason? I don't know. I think what Briggs is saying is strip all the subjective aspects away and at the same age who is the better player for that moment? Does his size matter? Of course it does. The fact he is bigger and stronger? It matters. Rules change? Well Mike would benefit by todays rules. Seems he did pretty well as you could not touch him back then. Jordan would rip your heart out but Lebron won't? Kudos to jordan there but thats a subjective aspect that leads to performance.

At the same age, before Mike became a really good outside shot, Lebron is a better player. We'll have to see the next 6 years how Lebron does to add to the resume.

Have we ever seen a better faciliater AND finisher? Lebron is a total package who can play 5 positions.

good point.. but when you say lebron is better than Jordan then we need to look at the whole body of work, I think even if you strip the subjective aspects away, jordans accomplishments speak for themselves... if you wan tto wait 6 years from now to measure both players, then I don't think someone should say that lebron is better than jordan...

If we measure by accomplishment, we have to wait.

The body of work by Lebron needs 7 more years. Bulls were way better team then Heat.

The end of this regular season at 28:

Lebron 4 MVP
Jordan 3 Mvp

Lebron 3 finals
Jordan 1

Lebron 1 championship
Jordan 1

We know how Jordans story ends, we don't know how Lebrons.

If you freeze this in a snapshot you have to go to scoring. Jordan a better scorer and Lebron a better facilitor.

We know Jordan played 15 seasons so the HOF players he came up against is a large list. It was a very good "dream team era"!

Lebron took two teams to finals, one on his back. That has to count somewhere. "failing in the finals" is not failing!

Its hard for many to foget the whole body of work and the rest of his career, but at age 28 its a compelling arguement.

Jordan grew muscles too! Jordan became a better player once he could shoot form the outside to save his body and trust his team mates. He also had pippen who was a lock down defender. Pippen guarded Magic Johnson. Magic never had anyone stop him before that!
Does it matter? It does if you start bringing in the subjective. Thats why its:

The end of this regular season at 28:

Lebron 4 MVP (im assuming he gets one this year.
Jordan 3 Mvp

Lebron 3 finals
Jordan 1

Lebron 1 championship
Jordan 1

If Miami wins they both have 2 champoinships.

Another note: Kobe benefited by Shaq able to move to LA without even doing a sign and trade to get a max deal! Jordan got 30mm which is about 50% higher than he could get now and that was 1998!!!!!!! In todays CBA could the Bulls afforded to keep a roster around Jordan that wins 6 in 8 years? Does mike move to a team that can pay him if the championships were not as probable with Bulls? Does Lebron stay with Miami or bolt to another team that can compete or stay? The new CBA changes everything!

I have nothing but respect for Jordan and his sociopathic desire to accomplish what he did regardless the era.

Will Lebron be able to measure his career in the same way? I doubt he can win 5 more chips unless the heat rebuild or he goes to another team.

Don't blow off Bill Russell folks. The dude had winning in his DNA.

lebron also came into the league at 18 nalod, maybe the thread should read, lebron could one day be > jordan, but as of now, you just can't cut off a date and make a comparison... not in this case... but I will wager anything that lebron won't win 6 rings... nor will he 3 peat 2 times.. and here is something he can never reverse.. he lost in the finals.. twice.. Jordan said, the one thing that will seperate him from guys like Bird and magic is that he never lost in the finals....

So if you saying lebron's career is not written yet, then maybe that just highlights how premature this thread is...

What poor memories do we cite for MJ? Gambling? Paternity suits? Please.

Please, someone start a Shaq > Russell thread. Would make as much sense.

sidsanders wrote:jordan was at unc for 3 years. jordan missed a year from a broken foot. jordan retired at 30 for nearly 2 years. using age isnt a good way to compare things. service time seems like a fairer way to do it.

i think in a few years if james is still playing as he is now, less and less folks will fuss over the comparisons.

tkf wrote:let me just ask this simple question..

you are starting a franchise and you can chose one player to start with.. 27 year old Jordan, or 27 year old lebron?

that is easy for me, I would take Jordan hands down.. and I am a huge fan of lebron's game... Jordan is just on another planet when it came to competing and getting it done!

Its easy to decide when you know how the rest of the career.

So your going with the "sure thing". Your starphuching!!!!!

Its not easy to put the blinders on and forget team and career.

Who is a better basketball player in a snapshot. Not sure there is a definitive "right or wrong" answer.

Its a discussion. I suppose if at age 27 we want 5 more champinships the best answer is Jordan.

CashMoney wrote:Jordan is the G.O.A.T. Lebron is hands down the best player of this era but is not close to MJ. Defense was actually played in MJ's day..you know when a player tried to go down the lane and was body slammed as opposed to the let me get of your way defense of today.

For all the scoring MJ did in his day he was also a lock down defender. Many people forget that the man won Defensive Player of the Year. The dude had a desire to win like no other and also played when there were monster in the middle.

To me if Lebron plays in MJ's era, Lebron is still a great player but not as good. MJ playing in todays NBA?

Put him at the point who could stop him? MJ would be small next to him. He would get handled by Lebron.

Put him on the bulls I think he does pretty well.

its all hypothetical.

Food for thought, the guy is the size of Karl Malone yet can shoot 3s, great ball distributor and handler, freak athlete, can guard 1-4 probably even some 5s. Imagine Lebron in the Bill Russell era. Went to the finals with the worst collection of talent to ever reach the finals.

gunsnewing wrote:Have you forgotten how clutch MJ was? No one has ever been as clutch. Kobe doesnt come close and hes a way clutcher than lebron

MJ averaged over 30 virtually every yr while shooting over 50%

Lebron is probably the best all around player to ever play the game. Better than Magic who had a weaker jumpshot and wasnt as clutch.

Also keep in mind MJ played when they allowed handchecking so based on that fact alone MJ owns Lebron
You can breathe on Lebron now when guarding him

Also MJ has 6rings to brons 1

MJ had pippen

Bron has frickin Wade bosh and ray allen.

I was a huge jordan fan. Knicks bulls was the ultimate event.

I get highly annoyed when people try to compare the 2. Compare Lebron to Magic not MJ. Apples and oranges

IMO LeBron is an athletic Bird with less of a jumper.

fitzfarm wrote:98 bulls vs 13 heat... Bulls win in sweep... Jordan mvp Nuff. Said... This comparison needs to stop Lebron will never be on Jordan's level just like Kobe won't be... Offensively Lebron isn't even close until he can consistently hit a jumper and has a consistent fade a way... This just needs to stop ... Jordan is in a different atmosphere better

People forget Michael was a terrible three point shooter, he started hitting threes when they moved the line up. LeBron is a better three point shooter, MJ was too good from midrange though.