Is LeBron James better than Michael Jordan?

[DJ]

I brought this up a few weeks ago when people were roasting James for his Finals record.

 

[trojanfan12]

But, no team MJ faced in the 90s had more than a puncher's chance to beat them. Most had no chance. Regadless of whether the East was better, he never faced a superior team during that entire run. LeBron has, multiple times.

Uh, no. No team that Lebron has faced has had more than a punchers chance to beat him until the finals and most of them haven't even had that much of a chance.

The difference between what Lebron has faced getting to the finals and what MJ did to get to the finals is pretty big in MJ's favor.

 

[Wamu]

I'm a diehard Lakers fan and respect how hard the undermanned Celtics fought and competed.

And hate James (much like I hated MJ) but respect the player.

Right on. And as a diehard Celtics fan I can't say I like the Lakers. But man I loved watching the Showtime Lakers back in the day, especially Magic. I can't remember another player that had such a true love of the game. For anyone that's old enough to remember him you don't like basketball if you didn't like his game.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I dont think anyone will ever definitively be able to say they were better than Jordan or better than LeBron.

Each guy has their own arguments for best of all time. A credible argument can be made for either guy at this point. You MIGHT still be able to make a credible argument for Magic or Kareem- but those arguments are becoming less credible with each passing year.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Uh, no. No team that Lebron has faced has had more than a punchers chance to beat him until the finals and most of them haven't even had that much of a chance.

The difference between what Lebron has faced getting to the finals and what MJ did to get to the finals is pretty big in MJ's favor.

the Pistons in 2007 definitely were the favorites. I think even the Nets were either close to a pickem or favorites against Bron in 07. In 08 i believe LeBron actually lost to the Magic which was close to a pickem series.

Indiana definitely had more than a "punchers" chance- esp. year 1 of Miami

 

[tlance]

How is beating Boston missing their two best players impressive anyways? While they go 7-50 from 3. "Oh gotta give him all time great status. He beat a team he was SUPPOSED TO. This series shouldn't even have gone 7.


If Lebron can beat the Warriors with Durant this year then we can revisit this thread.

You literally quoted me saying:

"It isn't beating Boston that was impressive"

To post this crap? Are you for real?

Everyone knows Cleveland can't beat GS. If they somehow do, there won't be a debate to be had.

 

[tlance]

Uh, no. No team that Lebron has faced has had more than a punchers chance to beat him until the finals and most of them haven't even had that much of a chance.

The difference between what Lebron has faced getting to the finals and what MJ did to get to the finals is pretty big in MJ's favor.

Maybe so.

Still irrelevant.

MJ never faced a superior team. Not once. Some of his challengers were better than many or all of LeBron's latest East foes.

But I am not that impressed simply by beating teams you are better than. And MJ's rings get greatly overhyped because he played for the Warriors of the 90s.

I don't care that some of his competition may have been better than LeBron's (still debateable though). The point is that he never faced a team more talented, or even as talented as his team. Not once.

 

[Wamu]

I dont think anyone will ever definitively be able to say they were better than Jordan or better than LeBron.

Each guy has their own arguments for best of all time. A credible argument can be made for either guy at this point. You MIGHT still be able to make a credible argument for Magic or Kareem- but those arguments are becoming less credible with each passing year.

MJ's the GOAT but who's your all time starting 5? Just wondering. Mine would probably be

PG- Magic
SG- MJ
SF- LeBron
PF- Duncan
C- Olajuwon

 

[flyerhawk]

The difference between what Lebron has faced getting to the finals and what MJ did to get to the finals is pretty big in MJ's favor.

Which teams did the Bulls beat that you think were better than the Golden State Warriors of today?

The 2016 Cavs did something that the Bulls never did. They beat a team with a better record than them.

In fact the Lebron has beaten teams with better records than his team regularly.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I dont think anyone will ever definitively be able to say they were better than Jordan or better than LeBron.

Each guy has their own arguments for best of all time. A credible argument can be made for either guy at this point. You MIGHT still be able to make a credible argument for Magic or Kareem- but those arguments are becoming less credible with each passing year.

Like I said before, I consider MJ the best scorer and winner in this era but Lebron is without a doubt the best ALL-AROUND player I have ever seen. Still a legendary scorer, not a better scorer than MJ but right up there. A legendary passer, not a better passer than Magic but right up there. A great rebounder, on the ball and help defender, he can guard the 1-5. And probably one of if not the best in transition as well as gettig to the hoop. He has become a very good shooter at times, better than MJ from 3 and that mid-range fader is getting better in these late years like MJ.

MJ and Lebron are 1a 1b in my book. But who knows when Lebron retires, I think they arent really comparable it’s why you could both put them up there.

 

[flyerhawk]

MJ's the GOAT but who's your all time starting 5? Just wondering. Mine would probably be

PG- Magic
SG- MJ
SF- LeBron
PF- Duncan
C- Olajuwon

PG - Magic
SG- MJ
SF - Lebron
PF - Malone
C - Wilt

C is probably the most debatable. Duncan at PF is legit.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Uh, no. No team that Lebron has faced has had more than a punchers chance to beat him until the finals and most of them haven't even had that much of a chance.

The difference between what Lebron has faced getting to the finals and what MJ did to get to the finals is pretty big in MJ's favor.

Hence the 8 straight Finals but almost every team Lebron has faced in the Finals has beeb better than those West teams. You put MJ in the west and he probably has 8 plus appearances in the early 90’s but he would be 3-5 or 3-6. Boston and Detroit murdered him.

 

[flyerhawk]

MJ and Lebron are 1a 1b in my book. But who knows when Lebron retires, I think they are really comparable it’s why you could both put them up there.

Pretty much how I see it.

Honestly I prefer arguments FOR players rather than AGAINST players when it comes to these discussions.

 

[Wamu]

PG - Magic
SG- MJ
SF - Lebron
PF - Malone
C - Wilt

C is probably the most debatable. Duncan at PF is legit.

PG & SG should be a no brainer. The other 3 spots are just who you like. There's really no wrong answer. Just thought it would be interesting to see who other people would list for their starting 5.

 

[Shanemansj13]

PG - Magic
SG- MJ
SF - Lebron
PF - Malone
C - Wilt

C is probably the most debatable. Duncan at PF is legit.

I had Duncan as the best PF of all-time. Not the scorer that Malone was but better defender and team player. It has nothing to do with titles I just think he was better all-around.

I also have Hakeem as the best center. The best athlete at C of all-time. Hard to compare with Wilt bc of the time frame. Hakeem also willed his team to a championship one year.

I got:

PG Magic
SG MJ
SF Lebron
PF Duncan
C Hakeem

 

[Wamu]

Like I said before, I consider MJ the best scorer and winner in this era but Lebron is without a doubt the best ALL-AROUND player I have ever seen. Still a legendary scorer, not a better scorer than MJ but right up there. A legendary passer, not a better passer than Magic but right up there. A great rebounder, on the ball and help defender, he can guard the 1-5. And probably one of if not the best in transition as well as gettig to the hoop. He has become a very good shooter at times, better than MJ from 3 and that mid-range fader is getting better in these late years like MJ.

MJ and Lebron are 1a 1b in my book. But who knows when Lebron retires, I think they are really comparable it’s why you could both put them up there.

For me LeBron is also the best all around player I've ever watched. Really the only other player in the discussion would be Magic.

 

[Wamu]

I had Duncan as the best PF of all-time. Not the scorer that Malone was but better defender and team player. It has nothing to do with titles I just think he was better all-around.

I also have Hakeem as the best center. The best athlete at C of all-time. Hard to compare with Wilt bc of the time frame. Hakeem also willed his team to a championship one year.

I got:

PG Magic
SG MJ
SF Lebron
PF Duncan
C Hakeem

Hey you stoled my list! Stop that. Thank you.

 

[Raw_Bee808]

Which teams did the Bulls beat that you think were better than the Golden State Warriors of today?

The 2016 Cavs did something that the Bulls never did. They beat a team with a better record than them.

In fact the Lebron has beaten teams with better records than his team regularly.

In 1993,The Bulls beat the Knicks in the ECF and the Suns in the Finals, both of those team had better records than Chicago.

 

[flyerhawk]

PG & SG should be a no brainer. The other 3 spots are just who you like. There's really no wrong answer. Just thought it would be interesting to see who other people would list for their starting 5.

Who would you say is arguably above Lebron at SF?

 

[flyerhawk]

In 1993,The Bulls beat the Knicks in the ECF and the Suns in the Finals, both of those team had better records than Chicago.

You are correct. Forgot about that season.