LeBron James once said that he’s chasing the ghost that played in Chicago, clearly referring to Michael Jordan. And while some claim that he’s already a better player and the greatest player to ever live, the rest think he’s far behind Jordan.
Like countless players, James has always tried to emulate His Airness. I mean, Jordan is arguably the most influential player of all time, so there’s no shame in that. He’s the reason why countless hoopers wear number 23 on their jersey, James included.
So, what if LeBron had decided to take the same path Jordan took back in the day? What if he had decided to retire exactly at the same age as Jordan to pursue a career in football? And later come back just like Jordan did after one season to reclaim his throne as the best player in the world?
Well, Jordan retired after the 1992-93 season with 29 years old. He was coming off winning three straight Championships and later tried his luck with the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago White Sox’ minor league affiliate.
In this scenario, James would have left the NBA after the 2013-14 season after he lost the NBA Finals vs. the San Antonio Spurs with the Miami Heat. Unlike Jordan, he’d retire with just a couple of rings and a 2-5 record in the NBA Finals.
Jordan didn’t play at all at 30 years old and later made it back when he was 31. He joined the Bulls for a late-season push but they couldn’t get the job done. In this scenario, James would also come back at 31 years old, right in time for the 2015-16 season.
And, just like Jordan, James would have proved again that he was the best player in the world by leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 3-1 come back in the NBA Finals vs. the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. He’d win the ring on his first full season after retirement, just like Jordan did.
With James back in town, the Cavaliers would have made it back to the Finals a couple of times but as you may know by now, he’d end up losing at the hands of the Warriors both times. Jordan, on the other hand, went on to win three more straight rings.
Then again, Michael Jordan retired following the 1997-98 seasons at 34 years old. That would mean LeBron would have to retire after the 2018-19 season, his first with the Los Angeles Lakers. In that scenario, James’s resume would have looked slightly different. He would have left a 3-8 record in the Finals with 14 All-Star Games and All-NBA teams.
Jordan later came back at 38 years old to have a two-year stint with the Washington Wizards. He was a two-time All-Star and played pretty well although his team didn’t fare well at all. In our hypothetical story, James would have to come back for the 2022-23 season. He takes great care of his body so there’s no reason he could still hoop at an elite level at that age.
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