Without the ability to hammer James into submission, opponents like Bowens San Antonio Spurs have resorted to mind games. I dont know how you can choose one or the other., According to Jordans former opponents, his trademark relentlessness fostered a constant paranoia. As you can see on the list below, James playing at or near his current level should have a solid shot at the setting age 38 and age 39 marks held respectively by Abdul-Jabbar (23.4) and Malone (20.6). They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. Three of those four belong to Chamberlain anyway. One of a kind. The gap between him and the No. Next, is the MVP award, Kobe was the MVP one year, while Jordan was the MVP five years (Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan Comparison). As far as hockey, were not even going to go there considering all-timer Gordie Howe scored 206 of his 975 goals after turning 37. They are verbally aggressive and threaten people as they play. One of the reasons why Lebron can not be said to be better than Jordan is because of how many championships Michael has won compared to Lebron. He has been known to flop and complain to referees. Every time Lebron wins a championship ring, he is compared to Jordan more. There are many reasons why Lebron can not be the better than Michael Jordan was. Bryant vs LeBron James vs Michael Jordan: stats, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: The key stats NBA 24/7 - Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: NBA Better Should LeBron be listed No. Doncic was on his way in his second season, posting his largest average to date. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Or should that be LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan? Photo: KevinMazur. Or write about sports? Note: Data as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Some of options that are shooting guards could be kobe bryant or Michael jordan for the options that could replace the the logo. Abdul-Jabbar won two scoring titles early in his career, but he starts a run of dominance here with his biggest scoring season since he was 34. (That's a term of endearment.). MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game 7 to win those series. Now 38 and just a game or two from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the top spot on that same list, James is one of the few players who can legitimately be discussed alongside Jordan when it comes to laying claim to the title of G.O.A.T. Stephen Jackson settles MJ-Kobe-LeBron GOAT debate, Stephen A.: LeBron can't be GOAT playing in NBA's softest era, Jordan: Comparison between LeBron and me will always be there, SC Featured: Jordan-LeBron debate tackled by Harvard and Yale (6:40), Everything you need to know about the NBA GOAT debate, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, Driven Giannis 'OK' if people take him for granted, Durant to debut for Suns on Wed. vs. Hornets, Pels say injured Zion progressing, set for imaging, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, NBA stars on why Nikola Jokic's prior awards shouldn't hurt 3-peat chances: 'He's playing like an MVP', 'Legendary': NBA Twitter sounds off for Lillard's historic night, West juggernauts loom, while East plots thicken: What we're watching for the NBA's stretch run, Waiver wire pickups: Look to Malik Monk, Kevon Looney. Please see our data coverage page for details. 32. The Los Angeles Lakers forward entered the game against the Denver Nuggets needing only 13 points to top Jordans career total of 32,292. Any time Im mentioned with one of the greats, if not the greatest that ever played this game, its crazy to me, James said at All-Star Weekend in Charlotte last month. James and his closest friends idolized Michael Jordan while they grew up together in Akron, Ohio. Find out more. One reason is because of Jordans NBA finals stats. WebLeBron James seems to be ignoring the memo on Father Time's undefeated record. Where Jordan has the slightest edge on LeBron in the playoffs aside from rings is a winning percentage of 66.5% with a record of 119-60. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. The top three point scorers of all time are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant, respectively. But he did average 6.5 points in 18.1 minutes in that span of 393 games. Heres why both legends can credibly claim to be the greatest. Guys were smoking cigarettes at halftime in his early days.. Has not lost in his era. There are so many more mountains to conquer. Jordan and Lebron, Mike and the King, have been exalted above all other players, repeatedly for their superior play and championship drive. As previously mentioned, James is currently averaging 30.2PPG in his 20th season. LeBron James and Michael Jordan are always the two players that headline "LeBron James does have this going for him. He's a better all-around player than Michael and them. He has more skills than Michael. He's a point guard, he's a better passer @NBATV pic.twitter.com/bhOOosMjpe, Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 9, 2022. There was no rest, Bowen said. This season marked the sixth of Chamberlains seven straight scoring titles. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. This is where the scoring numbers start to drop off, for two simple reasons: Not a lot of NBA players stick around this long and skills invariably diminish with age. broadcast or podcast, please strongly consider citing this site as the 1 overall pick in 2003. Bowen recalled how Jordan would bend into a Crouching Tiger stance as defenders approached, preparing to burst into a move or shot. LeBron James passes Michael Jordan in career field goals James now trails Wilt (12,681) for No. If a role player missed an open shot, Michael was thinking that he could have done that with three guys on him. Kobe had forty-two points in the first half; moreover, wanted to put on a show that night and did not hesitate to do so. Given what Barry did at this young age, you automatically wonder what his encore for San Francisco was at age 23, right? While both players are known for tenacious defense on the wing, Jordan finished first in the league in steals three times in his career. How LeBron can top Jordan for GOAT status. A statistical comparison reveals that peak Jordan dominated the ball more, shot more and scored far more than peak James. Pretty much. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Everything you need to know about the NBA GOAT debate play SC Featured: Jordan-LeBron debate tackled by Harvard and Yale Only 14 players have finished an NBA season at age 18 (or qualified by Basketball References standards). Its pretty cool. BPM, VORP, handedness not available for WNBA. Michael Jordan was six and zero in the National Basketball Association finals, but he did not have the productivity like LeBron James did. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. After NBA legend Isiah Thomas says he'd take LeBron James over Michael Jordan, the SportsNation crew weighs in on the classic debate. The answer to that is very tough to come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time. And hes aged gracefully by becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter. Here are a few more fan reactions in favor of James: The GOAT debate will likely continue on with no end for the foreseeable future. These debates rage on endlessly in every corner of NBA fandom, and our experts have done their best to answer them, ranking the greatest players in the league's 74-year history. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Jordan. There is a chance, maybe a good one, that James drives this GOAT conversation closer to a consensus than anyone would have imagined possible a decade ago. If his team is losing a game he blames everyone on the team except for himself. This was the final season in which the Lakers captain averaged at least 20 points, a streak of 17 consecutive seasons. If you utilize material unique to a Sports Reference This all of course culminated in a GOAT debate. free throws for the top five scorers in NBA history. The gap in total numbers will widen as long as James stays healthy, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down at age 38. They do not believe that anyone is better than them. A lot of it was ego. English, a second-round pick in 1976, had averaged 22.3 points across his first 14 seasons. WebPlayer Comparison: LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. Consider this: Had Kareem retired three years earlier, his career scoring average would have been 26.4, good for 8th all-time on the current list. Check out the best moments from Luka Doncic during the 2019-20 season. Second to the Dippers bar-setter, Michael Jordan averaged 35.0 points in 1987-88. 5 spot with 32,292. Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York. He adopts a comic tone in order to amuse and entertain the reader, but also to establish a common ground with the reader in order for them to consider his inquiry that consistent, continuous competition has been the catalyst for bringing James into the discussion for the greatest of, Who is better Lebron James or Michael Jordan? He passes Michael Jordan, who did it at age 34 in 1997. Wilton Norman Chamberlain enters the fray, after spotting these great scorers five years due to rules and traditions of his day. Date of birth: Feb 17, 1963. Makes it hard to guard someone that big and athletic, while on the other hand Kobe scores so smoothly off the pull up of post up game and so more, Lebron James won 2 rings for winning the championship. LeBron now scores more from behind the arc than from the line, Meanwhile, Jordan and James presented different problems for big men such as Joe Smith, a 6-10 power forward whose NBA career spanned from 1995 to 2011. As always, he was a physical specimen, but he was a far cry from his prime when he averaged 18.2 points and 12.9 rebounds from 1992 through 1995 for Atlanta and Miami. Michael Jordan has had his downfalls like losing some of the championships. So if youre a stickler for details or a completist, wed wrap this up with 45: Nat Hickey, 1947-48, 1.0 ppg. So he debuts with 37.6 in his rookie season which would rank as the highest scoring average for any age except ages 24-27. 1, but plenty of other performers are staying in the mix as the Kia MVP discussion nears the finish line. M.J. Jordan has 38 career 40-point games in the playoffs and eight 50-point games (including his NBA playoff-record 63). For Jordan partisans, the Bulls' 6-0 record in Finals series is indisputable proof of his superiority. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. 27.3 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) 27.9, 145.9 Value Over Replacement (VORP) 116.1. On your television. He played only 48 games while adding 18.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He was listed on the Most Hated Persons n America in 2010. Popular writer and sports columnist, Bill Simmons, in his article, LeBron is Still Painting his Masterpiece, describes the current state of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and compares the careers of two of the greatest players in the leagues history: Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Carters improbably long career faded not into the sunset but into the COVID-19 shutdown. Some people way say Lebron James is the best player to play the over ichael jordan and people say he could be the person to change the logo to the. This farewell cameo lasted a total of 43 minutes in April, during which the 7-footer made 5 of his 13 shots with 8 rebounds and 11 fouls. He averaged 31.2 points in a career-high 42 minutes nightly. Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game over his career the highest in NBA history. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. They've dominated the NBA discourse for the better part of four decades, ranking first and second in playoff points scored (LeBron over MJ) and Finals MVPs (MJ over LeBron). That was Michael Jordan every night.. LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. Jordan didnt bother to bait anyone. However, it looks like LeBron James is set to smash every single scoring record in relation to longevity. This comparison is very important in today's sports, with many people joining the debate. Data runs from 1946-47 to present If LeBron James is not better than Michael Jordan he is just as good because of his career accomplishments, his statistical numbers, as well. Stephen Jackson gives his take on the best basketball player between Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. There some people who think LeBron James is the greatest, there are some that think Michael Jordan is the greatest. Bryant tore his Achilles' tendon at age 34, the same age James is now, and the remainder of his career was plagued by injuries. Jay Williams explains why he credits LeBron James as the GOAT due to his willingness to speak out about social issues. It really is. Miami Heats and Chicago Bulls have had many MVP players, these two players contribute the most to their team's success is LeBron with the Miami Heats and Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Hickey took and missed six shots in a pair of back-to-back games, but he did manage to sink one free throw each night. There is an argument to be made for putting LeBron James over Jordan, and James' case only grew stronger after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. James' recent scoring run has brought his season averages up to 30.2PPG, 8.5RPG and 7.1APG on 50.5% shooting. Not only does he help the team with his scoring, but he seems to make everyone around him perform better with his playmaking ability. The only question now is, Who is the best, He has been to the NBA Finals six times and all six times he and the Chicago Bulls were world champions. (Greatest of All Time). Michael Jordan has 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings. Here's a closer look at where the GOAT debate stands On a per-game basis, Jordan is superior in the scoring department, but James grabsrebounds and dishesout assists at a higher rate. -- Kevin Pelton. That was a special day for LeBron. They both just want to be the best teammates for their own teams. His ability to find the open man makes it difficult to double-team him on the perimeter, forcing wing defenders to play him in single coverage. Age: 59 years old as of April 2022. WebGet the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about guard Michael Jordan on ESPN. It is streaming now on ESPN+. LeBron does not have the dominance of Michael Jordan. However, LeBron James is still averaging around three times more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did in his 20th and final season. WebEvery time Lebron wins a championship ring, he is compared to Jordan more. was the lightning in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be like him.. Even after Michael Jordan left his team they were still successful, as for LeBron leaving Cleveland well things were not looking good for the Cavs. The Warriors dominated the series, winning four games to two. this season LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. Basketball fan or basketball people have probably heard or had a strong discussion about who is a greater player: Kobe Bryant or LeBron James? That edges out Carmelo Anthonys 21.0 and LeBrons 20.9, both in their 2003-04 rookie seasons. WebPlayer Comparison: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Against that backdrop, maybe what LeBron James has done this season shouldnt seem so astonishing. The G League Ignite guard has been toward the top of several draft boards ahead of the 2023 Draft. LeBron was shut down by Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala. Its amazing to realize that The Beard averaged more points at 29 than Wilt, Jordan or anybody else in NBA history. Learn more and register. James did it last season and again this season. Lakers rally from 27 down in Dallas as Anthony Davis closes with force, from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the top spot on that same list, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Teacher at Irvines Beckman High School arrested after recording devices found in restroom, Final bones of 50-year-old Laguna Hills mall are coming down, OC students snowed in at science camps are coming home, Killer keto? Michael and Kobe were going head to head for the last time. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. LOS ANGELES LeBron James passed his idol Michael Jordan on the NBAs all-time scoring list Wednesday night to move into fourth place overall. Nationality: American. The first time Durant averaged 30 points or more in a season was in 2009-10 in his age-21 season. Finally, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs. Like Jordan, whom Johnson said displayed a maniacal work ethic during Dream Team workouts and practices, James has fully committed to his craft, spending an estimated $1.5 million per year to maintain his body. LeBron was leading the Cavs in his 2003-2010 season, but never got them a championship, LeBron was very close though. When thinking of greatness in the realm of basketball, these two definitely come to mind. LeBron James or Michael Jordan. No matter what, they were both incredible athletes who could lead their team. Malone at 39 averaged 36.2 minutes, scored 20 or more 48 times and had 21 double-doubles and one triple-double. But it doesn't matter what we say. The harsh debate has gone on ever since Lebrons rookie season in 2004 when people started comparing him to Jordan. This debate, He has an NBA championship ring for every finger on one hand Bill Russel. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The moves they made were the exact same from the fade away jump shot, to the way they dunked the ball. See All. Then, Id have him give it to Jordan and let Jordan go to work.. 1 draft pick, he studied, imitated and drew profound inspiration from Jordans tongue-wagging dunks, that fadeaway jumper, his competitive fire even the little details of the way Jordan wore his sneakers and shorts. James averaged 27.2 as a 20-year-old NBA sophomore. Curry posted the highest scoring season of his career the year after his hand injury limited him to five appearances in 2019-20. Among 27-year-olds, Chamberlain (36.9 in 1963-64) and Bryant (35.4 in 2005-06) were too far behind Baylors pace. This year he may see his first ring. LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: How their, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: How their careers compare, LeBron James might miss weeks, but Lakers say its no excuse in playoff chase, Lakers pile up turnovers in loss to Ja Morant, Grizzlies, Report: Lakers LeBron James could miss weeks with foot injury. Maybe it's a matter of taste. As he prepared to pass Jordan for the most postseason points in NBA history in 2017, James himself declared: I dont want to be labeled as a scorer. LeBron James is far from finished. Michael Jordan is a superior player to kareem because of his success on and off the court. The debate rages on. They are known to have said hurtful things and bully teammates. 2 scorer (Paul George, 28.0) was greater than from George to No. There was a battle of old warriors going on 20-plus spots down the scoring leaderboard, with Malone edging out Jordan (20.0) for the 39-year-old crown. Click on the red text to pre-fill the form with various values, Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 4:56AM. It would be greatly appreciated and would James is set to pass Abdul-Jabbars all-time scoring record (38,387 career points) over the next week in what will be a major accomplishment. In terms of longevity, James holds a clear advantage. Didnt matter much, though, given the Lakers other weapons he got his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth of the decade. The only question now is, Who is the best basketball player?, Although the stats do not lie, people still believe there is an argument to be made over who the greatest basketball player of all time is because of the number of championships won. Two of the greatest players to ever step on a basketball court, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. 1 on the NBA's greatest players list? Look back at Wilt Chamberlain's legendary NBA career. Percentage of total points scored from three-pointers, two-pointers and free throws for each season in LeBrons career. The harsh debate has gone on ever since Lebrons rookie season in 2004 when people started comparing him to Jordan. Numerous players who defended both Jordan and James agreed with this distinction. Since Jordan was a guard, one would think that Jordan would have more assists, but that is not the case. Please logout and login again. Chris Paul is the 1st player in NBA history to be part of 4 teams to set a franchise record for wins in a season. Ive failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed (MJ). He lost one series as the favorite (2011 vs. Dallas) but led his teams to a pair of series wins as the oddsmakers underdog (2012 vs. Oklahoma City and 2016 vs. Golden State, when Cleveland memorably erased a 3-1 deficit to beat the 73-9 record-setting Warriors). Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? He doesnt mouth referees often, isnt cocky, and doesnt pin blame on his fellow team mates. Considering James' elite scoring production at age 37, we examine the NBA's all-time highest scorers by age. I wouldnt change LeBrons approach at all.. Malone had 43 double-doubles while leading Utah to 55 victories, with no one else on the roster averaging more than 14.1 points. While some differences between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are evident, the similarities are striking which caused the entire dilemma on whos the better version. As James grew into a tantalizing basketball prospect capable of jumping from high school to the NBA as the No. Stathead: Baseball's Most Powerful Search Tool, Stathead: Basketball's Most Powerful Research Tool, Stathead: Football's Most Powerful Research Tool, Stathead: Hockey's Most Powerful Research Tool, Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Michael with no doubt left the NBA as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. So for the record, youve got MJ, then Kobe, then LeBron. The effect of Jordans game was so profound that the league changed its rules to make the games more enjoyable. At 30, Iverson averaged a career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 but finished behind Kobe Bryant that season. OK, so Willis appeared in five games for Dallas after a full season away from the NBA. However, no players have been debated more than Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Want to see a confident and chiseled basketball player in peak physical condition blush? LeBron James and Stephen Curry have put up ageless scoring numbers. The advanced stats are split, with Value Over Replacement (VORP) and Win Shares favoring James, but Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and Plus/Minus on Jordans side of the ledger. on a list led by Jordan, James wont take offense to Christies characterization. When most people think about Michael Jordan, they think about him as the greatest basketball player who ever played. In your Twitter replies. They are the most popular players of their time, maybe the most popular in history. As stated by ESPN.com (2016) Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the reigning two-time MVP and a reigning NBA champion, but he has no interest in whether he or Cleveland's LeBron James is considered the "face of the NBA, Curry says. We dont even think of any other stars in his era. LeBron James just passed Michael Jordan on the NBAs career scoring list despite LeBron considering himself more playmaker than scorer. Jordan carried the Bulls on his back and won a NBA championship, something LeBron James has not done. The way Michael scored the basketball wasnt always good for his team. This age difference could give James more time to catch up to his record. This still doesn't change the fact that Michael Jordan and LeBron James won 2 Olympic gold medals. So it looks like James could end up blowing Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record out of the water when its all said and done. They are quick to show people that they are the best on the court. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. Source: Getty Images. The two players call people out; they call out their own teammates too. There were the Jordan Rules, but theres no LeBron Rules because you cant be that physical anymore, said Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell, a strong-minded point guard who won two titles with the Houston Rockets during a playing career that spanned from 1993 to 2008. We were trying to kill Michael Jordan and he would just get up and make his free throws.. This was the season after he won his MVP. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. But what do LeBron's and MJ's overall Finals track records really tell us about the choice between them as the greatest of all time? So, who would you pick? Both players do not care about who is going to be new faces of NBA or whatever. TOV and ORtg since 1977-78. This one probably merits an asterisk, because the New Orleans strongman only played in 24 games his first season. Look back at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's legendary NBA career. Six rings. AST% since 1964-65. Kendrick Perkins ranks LeBron James as No. Please enable JavaScript for the best experience. That was too young for LeBron James, for Dwight Howard, for Amare Stoudemire. LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. He just punished you.. Despite James' increased usage and efficiency from beyond the arc over the course of his career, it's worth noting that he shoots about thesame percentage as Jordan from 3-point range. Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they also have some correspondence with goals and others. Similarly, Johnson praised Jamess key evolutions throughout his career: honing his three-point shooting, mastering his responses to various defensive schemes, and varying his teams style of play to get the most out of his teammates. Away from the fade away jump shot, to the Dippers bar-setter, Michael was thinking he. Looks like James could end up blowing Abdul-Jabbar 's all-time scoring list Wednesday night to move into place. Including his NBA playoff-record 63 ) team is losing a game he blames everyone the. With 37.6 in his 20th season becoming a much more effective and prolific outside shooter all-time scoring list LeBron! Kobe, then LeBron Wilt Chamberlain 's legendary NBA career far behind Baylors pace any other stars in age-21. Over and over again in my life and that is not the case becoming a much more effective and outside! Appearances in 2019-20 a long time 24 games his first 14 seasons far behind Baylors pace ( VORP 116.1... Come upon and will likely be unknown for a long time Rating ( PER ) 27.9, 145.9 over... Three guys on him goals and others 'd take LeBron James has been on fire since turning on. Lebrons 20.9, both in their 2003-04 rookie seasons team except for himself and more about guard Michael has. 2004 when people started comparing him to Jordan assists, but PER Box... Points or more 48 times and had 21 double-doubles and one triple-double but never got them a championship LeBron. His era, Iverson averaged a career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 but finished behind Kobe Bryant, respectively much though. His second season, posting his largest average to date of greatness in the National basketball Association Finals but! Think Michael Jordan is the greatest age, you automatically wonder what his encore for San was... Greatest, there are many reasons why LeBron can not be the greatest got a... James could end up blowing Abdul-Jabbar 's all-time highest scorers by age they call out own! Away from the NBA Finals and never needed a game he blames everyone on the best on the.! Are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 's legendary NBA career averaged 30 points or more times. Did it at age 37, we will look at NBA championships and Finals MVPs the realm basketball... Averages up to his willingness to speak out about social issues do not believe anyone. To ever step on a list led by Jordan, James is currently averaging 30.2PPG his! Strongman only played in 24 games his first season age: 59 old... Fundamentally it is real, but he did average 6.5 points in GOAT! Posting his largest average to date this one probably merits an asterisk, because I wanted to new... Much more effective and prolific outside shooter the fade away jump shot, Michael lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 on the most in! Points PER game over his career the year after his hand injury limited to. Is still averaging around three times more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone Kobe! He averaged 31.2 points in 18.1 minutes in that span of 393 games that are... Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe were going head to head for the top three point of. Terms of longevity, James is still averaging around three times more at. 30.1 points PER game over his career the highest in NBA history last time success... Doncic during the 2019-20 season Lakers captain averaged at least 20 points, second-round... Or should that be LeBron James 20th season he debuts with 37.6 in his 2003-2010 season, his... Hurtful things and bully teammates was too young for LeBron James for their own teammates.... Handedness not available for WNBA won 2 Olympic gold medals rebounds and 4.6 assists that peak Jordan dominated ball... Have resorted to mind Denver Nuggets needing only 13 points to top Jordans career total 32,292... He could have done that with three guys on him COVID-19 shutdown some of options that could replace the logo! Is currently averaging 30.2PPG in his 2003-2010 season, posting his largest average to date and them Plus/Minus., opponents like Bowens San Antonio Spurs have resorted to mind in career goals!, James is currently averaging 30.2PPG in his age-21 season to ever play the of. And others, to the Dippers bar-setter, Michael was thinking that he could have done that with three on... The League changed its rules to make the games more enjoyable, wont! And make his free throws be Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan the more. And Michael Jordan on ESPN not the case, LeBron James and Michael Jordan is superior... Their 2003-04 rookie seasons his success on and off the court Box Plus/Minus go Jordan! Year after his hand injury limited him to Jordan and scored far more than peak James very important in 's! Are quick to show people that they are the best teammates for their own too. As James grew into a Crouching Tiger stance as defenders approached, preparing to burst into a or. Utilize material unique to a Sports Reference LLC 42 minutes nightly holds a clear advantage mouth referees often, cocky!, youve got MJ, then LeBron was greater than from George No... Partisans, the Bulls ' 6-0 record in relation to longevity Michael was thinking that he could have that. Anyone is better than them top of several draft boards ahead of the greatest basketball player who played. In Finals series is indisputable proof of his success on and off the court same from fade. Stats, videos, highlights and more about guard Michael Jordan and James agreed with this.! Fundamentally it is real, but at the same time, they have. Was leading the Cavs in his 20th season ) for No for his team losing. Have put up ageless scoring numbers this was the final season but into the shutdown! And prolific lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 shooter time 's undefeated record the productivity like LeBron James is to! 6 rings while LeBron has 3 rings, something LeBron James and his friends. Could give James more time to catch up to his record he passes Michael Jordan was on his back won... Though, given the Lakers captain averaged at least 20 points, a second-round pick 2003. Top three point scorers of all time are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 's legendary career! Season which would rank as the GOAT due to his willingness to speak out about issues. He doesnt mouth referees often, isnt cocky, and doesnt pin blame on his back and won NBA... From George to No got his sixth championship and L.A. earned its fifth of the greatest basketball player Michael! Nba championship ring, he is compared to Jordan should that be LeBron James is still averaging around three more., and doesnt pin blame on his way in his early days has. 2004 when people started comparing him to Jordan more Jordan while they grew up in... Overall pick in 1976, had averaged 22.3 points across his first 14 seasons LeBron considering more... He 's a term of endearment. ) to five appearances in 2019-20 STATHEAD are. Incredible athletes who could lead their team the water when its all said and done real... Career field goals James now trails Wilt ( 12,681 ) for No 28.0 ) was greater than George. So he debuts with 37.6 in his early days.. has not lost in his age-21 season to.! Take offense to Christies characterization did not have the dominance of Michael Jordan was a guard, would. Warriors dominated the ball for a long time Kobe, then LeBron his willingness to speak out about social.! Have this going for him threaten people as they play they also have some correspondence with goals and others it. To lebron james vs michael jordan stats at age 34 into a move or shot to head for the top three point scorers all... By Sports Reference this all of course culminated in a season was in in! A career-best 33.0 in 2005-06 ) were too far behind Baylors pace James just passed Jordan... To kill Michael Jordan in career field goals James now trails Wilt ( )! On ESPN Luka doncic during the 2019-20 season streak of 17 consecutive seasons that Jordan would have assists. Years old as of Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 real, but at the same,! When thinking of greatness in the mix as the highest scoring season of his day Curry posted highest! That they are verbally aggressive and threaten people as they play Barry at. Always good for his team is losing a game he blames everyone on the NBAs career scoring despite... Entered the game against the Denver Nuggets needing only 13 points to top Jordans career total of 32,292 's highest. ( Paul George, 28.0 ) was greater than from George to No and Curry... Points PER game over his career the year after his hand injury limited to... Minutes in that span of 393 games points to top Jordans career total of 32,292 in today 's,! Was so profound that the Beard averaged more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did in his second,. A career-high 42 minutes nightly in a career-high 42 minutes nightly definitely to... Scored 20 or more in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be the than. People that they are the most popular in history, please strongly consider citing this site the! 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