I didn't mean they play similar game. I meant that they both rely on their athleticism to get most of their points. Should've made it clearer.
This is so true. It was amazing watching him go from being a dunking machine and athletic freak of nature to being a jump shooter. BTW, MJ is also the oldest player to score over 50 points. I think he did it when he was 38-40. I wish he could play against zones and no handchecking today... he'd put up some silly numbers.
Love that clip of 40yr old MJ. For a shooting guard to perform at that level at that age! Wow. Jordan completely reinvented himself by 96 (Fadeway Mike), if Lebron can pull something like that off I will start thinking about this question. IMO Lebron should just retire after this year and ruin everyones life.
Shaq's first visit to Chicago - MJ drops 64 on him and the Magic. It's fun watching MJ pop jumper after jumper in this game. He's just raining from 16-22 feet. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6mjwyLp6OiM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6mjwyLp6OiM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Jordan dropping 51 at age 38 : <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ye-0ghhY7uw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ye-0ghhY7uw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Robert Horry is not a better player than Tracy McGrady. Mario Elie isnt a better player than Ron Artest. Rings do count, yes. But I'll take Barkley any day over Will Perdue. There's plenty other Jordan hard-to-dos thats still tough for any player to match, though
Look, I'm as big an MJ fan as anyone here and have taken heat for it. But to say "show me rings" as an argument against LeBron is foolish when MJ didn't win any himself until his 7th year. That's all. To compare the two players fairly, we should compare LeBron's track record and development with MJ's first 6 years. If you do that, LeBron compares quite well despite being 3 years younger. Like MJ, he's clearly become the most dominant player in the game BEFORE winning a championship (unless he wins it this season). Some of the same arguments here against LeBron were used against MJ. The similarities are striking. I'll say this again: In many minds back in the day, Michael Jordan didn't become MJ until he won a couple of championships. There were a LOT of naysayers who didn't want to give him credit. Same with LeBron today.
Here is what I don't understand: Lebron makes a last second shot and espn shows it a million times, does historical back pieces concerning it, comparing it to Jordan, and yet two days earlier Rashard Lewis did the same this and what does it get? Great shot Rashard. It just shows you how the media can make a player seem bigger than LIFE. Hell even kobes 40 point game didn't get this much attention.
STOP COMPARING KOBE or LEBRON to JORDAN ! damn I mean these guys are great but neither has WON a championship leading their team yet! NOT 1 !!! (I'm not counting Kobe with Shaq) Lets wait until if EVEN ONE of them win it this year ... could they do it maybe another 3 of the next 4 yearssssss!?? then we can start the COMPARING!!! damn should we start comparing Blake Giffins as the NEXT TIM DUNCAN? STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LBJ must first accomplish at least half of what MJ accomplished before He could be compared to MJ. Skills wise is one thing but the most important thing which will define a great player is his accomplishments.
The difference is LeBron's first 6 seasons are comparable to MJ's. Rashard is in no way comparable. LeBron's career is what makes him seem "bigger than life", not the one shot yesterday. 40 point games are great, but there is nothing like a buzzer-beating shot in the playoffs. MJ's shot against Cleveland has been replayed more than any shot in history (except the one against Bryon Russell) and it came a couple of years before his first championship. And nobody talks about him scoring over 40 points in that same game either because "the Shot" is a bigger story. I don't like ESPN either and almost never watch Sportscenter. But how can you blame them on this one? The moment was electric. If Rashard's shot was at the buzzer, it may have gotten more play by the four-letter network.
I'm going to bump this thread in a decade and provide the forum with the correct answer. You're welcome.
As the leader of the team: MJ 6 rings, Lebron none. Case closed. Skill wise, James has a lot to catch up, but he is still young.
MJ also makes the baddest azz commercials of all time. Lebron got nothing on Mike when it comes to commercials. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IpfzaqIuR34&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IpfzaqIuR34&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I'm going to put this really nice and easy, some of LeBron's or Kobe's best performances is what Jordan did on a regular basis.
