Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever set foot on the face of the earth. LeBron James, on the other hand, is perhaps the closest to the greatest.
There’s no need to entertain the never-ending debate here. We’re not trying to discuss whether Jordan is the best or LeBron would dominate in the 90s. We’re just trying to honor greatness and point out a fact that bonds them and no other player in basketball history.
Thing is, Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the only players to win a regular-season MVP, NBA Finals MVP, and an Olympic gold medal all in the span of twelve months. That’s something that’ll likely never happen again.
Jordan’s milestone came back in 1992. He led the Chicago Bulls to an impressive 67-15 record at age 28, averaging 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.3 per game on 51% shooting and his Bulls ended up winning the NBA Championship after beating the Knicks, Heat, Cavs, and Blazers in the playoffs.
Later on, the Black Cat would be the leader of that historical Dream Team that completely crushed their opponents in the Barcelona 92 Olympics, which would be his second and last gold medal.
And just when it seemed like nobody could ever have such a successful year in basketball terms, 2011-12 LeBron James came into the picture by replicating what his biggest idol had accomplished two decades earlier.
The King was coming off a heartbreaking loss in the Finals vs. the Dallas Mavericks and made sure to get his payback. He led the Miami Heat to a 46-20 record with averages of 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 53% from the floor at age 27, and his team ended up beating the Knicks, Pacers, Celtics, and Thunder en route to his first-ever NBA Championship.
James would put the cherry on top of the sundae that summer by topping the list of NBA stars that made the 2012 Olympics to win his second gold medal (third Olympic medal overall), finishing one of the greatest individual seasons in professional basketball history.
That’s just one of the few things they have in common and why they should be at the top of the rankings when it comes to the greatest to play this beautiful game.
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