LeBron James is a freak of nature—there’s no other way to put it. At 40 years old, he’s still playing at an elite level, putting up 25.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game this season, and making a legitimate case for MVP. But one aspect of LeBron’s career that often fuels debates about his legacy is the sheer number of top 5 draft picks he’s played alongside.
From Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis to his current running mate Luka Doncic, the list is impressive, to say the least. Meanwhile, Michael Jordan’s title runs with the Chicago Bulls were defined by one clear truth: he did more with less. Outside of Scottie Pippen, a Hall of Famer who was drafted fifth but developed under Jordan’s shadow, and a few others, the Bulls’ supporting cast was largely built around role players and specialists.
That begs the question: How much of LeBron’s sustained success can be attributed to the help he’s had around him? It’s an incredible debate, but one thing is clear—while Jordan’s dominance was built on dragging role players to glory, LeBron’s path to the top has been paved with high-caliber talent.
LeBron James
No. 1 pick – Shaquille O’Neal (1)
No. 1 pick – Derrick Rose (2)
No. 1 pick – Greg Oden (3)
No. 1 pick – Kyrie Irving (4)
No. 1 pick – Anthony Davis (5)
No. 2 pick – Michael Beasley (6)
No. 2 pick – Lonzo Ball (7)
No. 2 pick – Brandon Ingram (8)
No. 2 pick – D’Angelo Russell (9)
No. 3 pick – Carmelo Anthony (10)
No. 3 pick – Luka Doncic (11)
No. 4 pick – Antawn Jamison (12)
No. 4 pick – Chris Bosh (13)
No. 4 pick – Russell Westbrook (14)
No. 5 pick – Ray Allen (15)
No. 5 pick – Dwyane Wade (16)
No. 5 pick – Kevin Love (17)
LeBron James has played alongside an almost absurd number of top 5 draft picks, 17 in total. Starting with the heavyweights, Shaquille O’Neal was past his prime by the time he teamed up with LeBron in Cleveland, but his presence still drew defensive attention and provided veteran leadership (averaging 12.0 PPG and 6.7 RPG) during the 2009-10 season. The duo didn’t result in a title, but Shaq’s pedigree as a No. 1 pick speaks to the level of talent LeBron has had at his disposal.
Similarly, Derrick Rose joined LeBron in Cleveland years removed from his MVP form, providing sparks off the bench (9.8 PPG) but never recapturing his former explosiveness. Greg Oden, another No. 1 pick, was a tragic what-could-have-been story, playing a limited role (2.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG in 23 appearances) in Miami due to injuries.
In contrast, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis were franchise-altering partners. Irving’s iconic dagger three-pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals sealed Cleveland’s historic comeback against the 73-win Warriors, showcasing how critical he was to LeBron’s legacy. Irving was a monster in Cleveland alongside James, averaging 22.4 PPG and 5.3 APG in the regular season and 23.9 PPG and 4.7 APG in the playoffs.
Davis’ two-way dominance was instrumental in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 title run, with his defensive versatility and offensive firepower perfectly complementing LeBron’s game. Davis led the Lakers in scoring during the regular season that year (26.0 PPG) and posted 27.7 PPG and 9.7 RPG in the playoffs. Over his Lakers career and before this season’s trade to Dallas, Davis held averages of 24.8 PPG and 11.0 RPG.
Chris Bosh also played a crucial role in Miami’s success, sacrificing his scoring numbers to anchor the defense and space the floor. Bosh held averages of 17.3 PPG and 7.4 RPG alongside James in Miami, making four straight All-Star appearances as the third option on a stacked superteam.
Then there’s Dwyane Wade, the ultimate co-star who willingly handed the keys to LeBron in Miami, resulting in two championships and four straight Finals appearances. Wade’s ability to finish in transition and take over late in games made him LeBron’s most vital teammate because he taught The King how to win when it mattered. Wade posted 22.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.7 APG with James next to him in Miami and was always the clutch performer when needed.
LeBron’s list of top-tier draft picks doesn’t end with stars. Players like Kevin Love provided critical rebounding and spacing, especially in Cleveland’s Finals runs. Love was responsible for getting the final stop in the 2016 Finals against Stephen Curry, and averaged 17.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG over his seasons with James.
Russell Westbrook was a short-lived experiment, struggling to fit alongside LeBron’s playmaking in Los Angeles, but his presence still speaks to the caliber of teammates LeBron has attracted. Despite the criticism he received, the triple-double maestro averaged 17.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 7.2 APG with James as his teammate.
The addition of Luka Doncic this season (averaging 24.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 7.6 APG so far) has elevated the Lakers to an elite level, with the two forming the most unstoppable duo in the league. LeBron’s access to such a pool of talent isn’t just a testament to his influence as a player but also a legitimate point of debate in the GOAT conversation.
Michael Jordan
No. 1 pick – Kwame Brown (1)
No. 3 pick – Bill Cartwright (2)
No. 3 pick – Dennis Hopson (3)
No. 3 pick – Jerry Stackhouse (4)
No. 5 pick – Scottie Pippen (5)
Michael Jordan’s list of top 5 draft-pick teammates is far less impressive, and the impact of those players was minimal compared to LeBron’s supporting casts. The most notable was Scottie Pippen, the No. 5 pick in 1987, who blossomed into one of the greatest two-way players in NBA history. Pippen’s defensive versatility and ability to initiate the offense allowed Jordan to focus on scoring and wreak havoc on both ends of the floor.
Their partnership was the foundation of Chicago’s six championships, and Pippen’s willingness to embrace his role without overshadowing Jordan is a huge reason why those Bulls teams were so dominant. Pippen averaged 16.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 5.1 APG before Michael Jordan’s first retirement and 19.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 5.8 APG during the Bulls’ second three-peat.
Outside of Pippen, the list is underwhelming. Kwame Brown, the infamous No. 1 pick, was a massive bust, failing to live up to his potential during his stint with Jordan on the Washington Wizards. Brown’s lack of development and Jordan’s own frustration with him became a symbol of Washington’s struggles during that era, as the center only averaged 6.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG over the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Bill Cartwright, a former No. 3 pick, played a solid but unspectacular role as the Bulls’ starting center during their first three-peat, providing physicality and a mid-range jumper, and the center averaged 9.6 PPG and 5.7 RPG during Michael’s stint in Chicago.
Jerry Stackhouse was a legitimate scorer but never played alongside Jordan at the peak of his powers. Jordan’s last season in the NBA came in 2003, and Stackhouse was the future of the team with averages of 21.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 4.5 APG. The Wizards missed the playoffs, however.
Looking back as well, Dennis Hopson was a complete non-factor despite being a No. 3 pick. Hopson played with the Bulls in 1991 (appearing in 61 games and averaging 4.3 PPG) and only played two games in 1992 with averages of 1.0 PPG.
Overall, Jordan’s ability to win with a supporting cast mostly composed of role players and specialists only enhances his legacy. Outside of Pippen, his most impactful teammates were lower picks or even undrafted gems like Horace Grant, Toni Kukoc, and Steve Kerr.
While LeBron has played with an all-time collection of high draft picks and future Hall of Famers, Jordan’s titles were built on maximizing the potential of those around him, often dragging role players to glory through sheer will and dominance. This difference is at the heart of the never-ending GOAT debate.
LeBron James Has Had More Help Than Michael Jordan… But Has Won Fewer Rings
The debate over LeBron James and Michael Jordan’s legacies has only intensified this season as LeBron became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 points across the regular season and playoffs. That milestone has reignited the conversation about whether LeBron’s brilliance outweighs his Finals record, especially when stacked against Jordan’s perfect 6-0 record in the NBA Finals.
LeBron’s longevity and ability to remain an MVP candidate at 40 years old are undeniably impressive, but the reality is that he has benefited from an all-time level of talent around him—far more than Jordan ever did. Looking at MVP-caliber stars like Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and now Luka Doncic, to a long list of top 5 draft picks, LeBron’s supporting casts have been stacked.
And yet, despite all that help, LeBron’s championship count still sits at four, two short of Jordan’s six, despite playing in eleven Finals to Jordan’s six. While that isn’t the only determining factor of the never-ending GOAT debate, it is one to consider.
For us, LeBron is clearly the GOAT when it comes to longevity because we might not see another player score a total of 50,000 points again, but Michael has done more with less and that alone should end the debate and leave it where it is: nobody has yet to come close to the legendary Bulls superstar.
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