No two players in basketball history are compared more than LeBron James and Michael Jordan. As the two guys with the most impressive resumes, their careers will always be stacked up against each other, and the argument about who is better will always rage on.
But should it? If you ask Nets star Kevin Durant, he’ll say no. According to him, there’s no need to compare them at all since they will never play against each other. Instead, we should appreciate what they both have brought to the game.
“MJ would never play against LeBron in a game. I think LeBron will be in that same realm. … There’s, like, no comparison to what Michael Jordan did. It’s just different. You know what I’m saying? … Y’all both are something we never seen before. You know, both unique, both sitting in your own areas of greatness.”
“Why the hell are we always comparing these guys like they’re gonna play against each other? … When you look at what they’ve done separate of, like, the comparisons, it’s some unbelievable shit from both of them. And that transcends the game of basketball, you know. I’ve heard people say ‘You’re the LeBron of this,’ so, you know, he’s in that realm, too.”
Statistically, Jordan and LeBron are still far apart. At this time, an entire Hall of Fame career separates them.
Still, in a lot of ways, Durant is right. It’s hard to compare two players whose careers are so far apart. So much has changed from the 90s to now that it’s hard to even fathom. Individually, both Jordan and LeBron have pros and cons to their game — just like every other player.
Whatever your thoughts on it, the debate will continue. And as LeBron gets closer and closer to the end of his basketball journey, it’s likely that comparisons to MJ will only intensify.
Hopefully, even amid disagreements, fans continue to recognize the greatness of each player and refrain from diminishing their astounding careers.
