My current framing of the MJ vs LeBron debate

[msgkings322]

Maybe not worth its own thread but the NBA thread is all over the place

Watched the Warriors win in Chicago (finally!)...the Bulls were creating that very night at halftime a Ring of Honor and putting all the Bulls greats (not just the MJ era) in, some highlights, some were there in person, MJ sent a prerecorded video message. Also they honored the 1995-6 team and guys like Kukoc were there and also of course the other team's coach was on the floor being honored (Kerr). Phil Jackson was there in person, looking sharp but old, did not stand up.

Anyhoo, putting aside that this GOAT debate is literally impossible to 'win', the arguing is the point of it, so here goes

It's the usual better career vs better peak like HOF debates have. MJ at peak level was more dominant over the sport than LeBron has ever been. But MJ can't touch LeBron's sustained excellence for so long.

Got reminded seeing the MJ highlights yet again, you can picture them....the big jump in the air and fist pump vs the Cavs, the 'I'm so sick' game with Pippen helping him like James Brown's hype man (you know the dude who keeps putting the cape on James), the switching hands in midair layup, that final 3, etc. There will never be a force concentrated in dominance like that ever again. Everyone else is too good now to compare, meaning no one star can be THAT far from another now.

And it's hard to imagine some future GOAT contender outlasting LeBron's sustained excellence. Like how could you improve that body and basketball brain in the future? It's sort of the max setting.

Anyhoo, I guess that's all LOL

 

[thunderc]

You should have gone to bed early last night

 

[trojanfan12]

Looks like someone was cleaning out the liquor cabinet last night.

 

[msgkings322]

Looks like someone was cleaning out the liquor cabinet last night.

You of all people...I was high as Snoop Dogg on April 20th

But reading it now I wasn't wrong

 

[msgkings322]

You should have gone to bed early last night

Yeah that's what your mama said!

She looks out for me.

 

[msgkings322]

Actually reading it again that's some good work I did. Or maybe I should just tell you guys what I had for lunch, or which NFL conference is better.

 

[Mebert]

I am not sure the peak runs are all yhay different. Jordan's feels artificially short thanks the the 2 years lost I. The middle, but Lebron has averaged about 30 missed games the last 5 years, still high level, but missed time matters.

Lebrons extended peak is still greater, I just think it is closer than people think.

 

[thunderc]

I am not sure the peak runs are all yhay different. Jordan's feels artificially short thanks the the 2 years lost I. The middle, but Lebron has averaged about 30 missed games the last 5 years, still high level, but missed time matters.

Lebrons extended peak is still greater, I just think it is closer than people think.

Never losing a game 7 while going 6-0 in the finals ends most arguments.

 

[Mebert]

Never losing a game 7 while winning 6 titles ends most arguments.

Sure, but that is outside the point op was making. Lots of factors go into goat, and longevity peak for sure is a critical part of it.

 

[msgkings322]

I am not sure the peak runs are all yhay different. Jordan's feels artificially short thanks the the 2 years lost I. The middle, but Lebron has averaged about 30 missed games the last 5 years, still high level, but missed time matters.

Lebrons extended peak is still greater, I just think it is closer than people think.

There's no contest in longevity and effectiveness at advanced age. LeBron got his first title well younger than Jordan did also. But sure I can agree MJ had a good length career of being great too. Just well short of LeBron.

LeBron leads MJ in all the counting stats, by a lot. That's kind of my point. Who scores the most points in NBA history, that's a factor in the GOAT debate.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Actually reading it again that's some good work I did. Or maybe I should just tell you guys what I had for lunch, or which NFL conference is better.

You bastard, haha! I was nowhere near this thread and I’m catching strays.

 

[thunderc]

Sure, but that is outside the point op was making. Lots of factors go into goat, and longevity peak for sure is a critical part of it.

As long as you played long enough to qualify of sorts, how good you were at your peak is always going to be big. We have a clear winner there.

 

[msgkings322]

Never losing a game 7 while going 6-0 in the finals ends most arguments.

Winning finals MVP on 3 different teams does something similar. I get it, you're Team MJ for life.

 

[msgkings322]

You bastard, haha! I was nowhere near this thread and I’m catching strays.

It's a rough place here

 

[thunderc]

Winning finals MVP on 3 different teams does something similar. I get it, you're Team MJ for life.

The 3 different teams doesn’t mean anything, nothing, other than he shopped around.

 

[msgkings322]

As long as you played long enough to qualify of sorts, how good you were at your peak is always going to be big. We have a clear winner there.

As we have a clear winner in terms of effectiveness over a very long period, more stats, etc.

Which is yet another reason there's no provable winner to the debate. It's just how one sees it, and that's part of the fun. Endless argument, no winner.

 

[msgkings322]

The 3 different teams doesn’t mean anything, nothing, other than he shopped around.

LOL it means he could lead 3 different casts, coaches, and systems to titles.

You know MJ is never going to fuck you, right?

 

[thunderc]

LOL it means he could lead 3 different casts, coaches, and systems to titles.

You know MJ is never going to fuck you, right?

Ridiculous thing to say, whatever lol

 

[msgkings322]

Ridiculous thing to say, whatever lol

No I'm serious. He's not gay, like at all.

 

[thunderc]

No I'm serious. He's not gay, like at all.

So you tried?