LeBron James and Michael Jordan will go down in history as forever inter-linked despite MJ retiring the season before LeBron was drafted into the NBA. There’s been no player closer to MJ on the all-time list, but many believe LeBron will never surpass him.
The fear factor is touted heavily against LeBron. Recently, many have come out and said that LeBron wasn’t feared like MJ. Over the years, notable names like Stephen A. Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Vernon Maxwell said the same.
Stephen A. Smith said, “I saw with my own two eyes. Everybody universally respects LeBron. They feared Jordan… Throughout LeBron’s tenure, there’s always been a debate about who’s his peer. Tell me one time in MJ’s career when that was even a question. You walked into an arena and you wanted no part of this dude. You were so scared of MJ, you’d be depressed the night before thinking about going against that brother. Folks that watched MJ and watched LeBron know.”
Shaquille O’Neal played against both and had this to say, “Nobody was scared of LeBron. They respect him but don’t fear him… I was terrified of MJ. Just watching him out there, I was terrified.”
Vernon Maxwell described the fear he faced while knowing he has to go through Chicago and face Michael Jordan, “In the summertime when they put the schedules out, you put that mark on Chicago… The night before, it’s sleepless nights man. What you got to do tomorrow, you don’t want to get embarrassed, he was just a dog man. He was like Jesus, in a class by himself alone.”
For many, Michael Jordan will always be the GOAT. Even beyond the fear factor, Jordan’s prime is unquestionably the greatest we have ever seen. LeBron’s prime is the longest we have ever seen and deserves massive amounts of credit unto itself. Ultimately, it depends on what you value.
Pick Your GOAT
Michael Jordan is a 6-time NBA Champion, 6-time Finals MVP, 5-time regular season MVP, 1-time Defensive Player of the Year, 14-time NBA All-Star, and 11 times All-NBA. He led the league in scoring for 10 seasons while also leading the league in steals for 3 seasons. His career averages are averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals over 15 seasons in the league.
LeBron James is a 4-time NBA Champion, 4-time Finals MVP, 4-time regular season MVP, a one-time scoring champion, and an assists leader. He is going to likely retire with the most All-Star appearances and appearances on All-NBA teams, as he played in his 19th All-Star Game this season and is likely going to be named to his 19th All-NBA team. He became the all-time leading scorer in league history this season. His career averages are 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over 20 seasons (and counting).
If you appreciate the totality of accomplishments, Jordan is easily the winner. He won more in a shorter time and dominated his peers, unlike LeBron. If you understand the challenges of the modern era and the impressive nature of LeBron making 10 Finals while maintaining a high level of play for 20 seasons, Mr. James is the player for you. Either way, both have entertained billions and dominated their sport, so they are the standard for excellence in basketball.
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