| Lebron vs. Jordan: Can there be a tie already? |
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| Written by Zack Fulkerson, Sports Columnist |
| Thursday, 28 February 2013 10:03 |
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Lebron James might be the most divisive player in the NBA. I doubt there’s a single person who would say that Lebron James is a bad basketball player. The controversy lies, not in whether or not he’s good, but elsewhere.
First question: Why does everything have to be a competition? Is it possible that there could be two world-class basketball players (who played in different decades) and were both really talented? It’s not even the same game. And Lebron himself has said that he doesn’t want to be Jordan, nor does he seek his approval. I don’t even like the comparison, but let’s do it for information’s sake. Michael Jordan is a six-time NBA champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, 14-time NBA All-Star, three-time NBA all-star game MVP, NBA rookie of the year and has two Olympic gold medals. He led the league in scoring in 10 of his 17 seasons, shot 866 consecutive games of 10 points or more and is the oldest player to score 50 points in a game. James currently has more than 450 consecutive games in which he has scored in the double digits. He’s a three-time NBA MVP, nine-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA All-Star game MVP, NBA rookie of the year, and has two Olympic gold medals and one bronze. Unfortunately, and this is the number one talking point, he only has one NBA championship ring (and one NBA Finals MVP). Mind you, Lebron James is only 28 years old. MJ was 28 when he got his first ring. In other words, LBJ is right on track to be Michael Jordan — if not better. And there’s a simple explanation: He’s the best basketball player in the world, and he trounces all of the other best basketball players in the world. It’s hard to find something that he does wrong. Name the stat, and you can be sure that he’s above average at it. Michael Jordan was a fantastic basketball player, and everybody will remember him as the best of his time. He will be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived. He reinvented the game and made basketball exciting for some older generations. But that’s just the thing — I wasn’t even old enough to say I remember Michael Jordan playing basketball; he is only a legend. Lebron James is a phenomenon I can witness with my own two eyes. He’s this generation’s Michael Jordan, and he will make that clear by the end of his career if he hasn’t proved it to you already. It’s time to stop comparing MJ and LBJ — just let them share the limelight. |
Comments
The best is based on skill level not stats or championships. Personal preference mixes and matches limited info to arrive at the answer it have already predetermined. For example...Stats and Championships are an indicator of skill level, but only skill level itself is the direct indicator of individual greatness. The STATS say it's Chamberlin in a runaway, nobody close. The CHAMPIONSHIPS say its Russell in a runaway, nobody close. The GREATEST PLAYERS AND COACHES (not counting the actual players coach) of all time say, based on individual SKILL LEVEL, it's Oscar Roberton in a runaway, nobody close. It's the NBA AND MEDIA, for their own financial reasons, say its Jordan, until they determine it's in their best interest to pick a successor. Clearly, with the number of people who think Jordan is tops, the media is in control of what most people think, whether it's true or not. And that my friend shows that until people can think for themselves, we will remain at the hands of an agenda oriented media.
It's the same regardless of venue. Political, Business etc. One other example...Football writers have elected Peyton Manning the best regardless, like they have Jordan, and use either Passer Rating or QBR (depending on were he leads) or something else, to say he is the best. Yet Advanced Statistics like DVOA and DYAR, by definition and more accurately ID the best. DVOA (best per play), DYAR (cumulative best overall). Last year it wasn't Peyton, yet he would have gotten the MVP were it not for Peterson. if you don't want to be manipulated, you have got to learn to think for yourselves.
Oscar Robertson was called the greatest until he took NBA to court requiring NBA to stop forcing players to sign with local teams.
Larry Bird was called the greatest until he took NBA to court, requiring NBA to allow free agency.
NBA offered to market Jordan as greatest if he behaved. Reason Jim Brown and Muhammed Ali had run ins with Jordan, and cited him with racial failings. They want him to champion blacks, but he choses to not risk losing the NBAs backing as the greatest. The press bought in (even subdues negatives about him to help market the NBA), the manipulated fans followed and Michael is perceived as the best ever.
Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and many of the greats LAUGH when someone says Jordan is best. Russell laughed uncontrollably for an extended time. They don't even have him in their top five. They all concurred, hands down, it was Robertson, Oscar Robertson as #1.
Trust Jordan himself. Michael not only recognized his skill level as comparable to Drexler, but also says only championships count. If that's true then Russell's 11 championships in 13 years (84%) far surpasses Jordas 6 in 15 years (40%), by twice as much & more. And Russell did it against far superior competition...Robertson, Chamberlin, Baylor & West, while Jordan played against inferior watered down completion, got to play more games in a season, both pad his stats. And best he played against was Ewing and Malone in their prime. Beating up on Magic and Bird at the end of their careers isn't the same.
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