My current framing of the MJ vs LeBron debate

[Jordan23]

I love this debate and I give the edge to Jordan for going 6 for 6 in the finals but I do give major credit to Lebron I do believe winning multiples on 3 different teams in 2 different conferences is very impresses. One of the franchises (the Cavs) has a history of not winning anything and he was able to bring them a championship. If Kobe would have been traded to Chicago or Duncan would have left to Orlando I don't know if they would have found success in winning more championships.

Also I feel the quality of opponents that Lebron faced was better also in this day in age it would be super hard to win as teams change heavily in the offseason and a lot of stars do like to buddy up and try to create super teams. Imagine Reggie miller leaving Indiana to go team up with Patrick Ewing in New York or Karl Malone/Stockton in Utah for the sake of trying to beat the Bulls.

Kind of what Lebron did to win?

 

[tlance]

Kind of what Lebron did to win?

He did that once.

And took a ton of crap for it.

 

[Jordan23]

He did that once.

And took a ton of crap for it.

He did that and lost and then won. Imagine Jordan joining Bird and then go lose the finals.

 

[broncosmitty]

He did that and lost and then won. Imagine Jordan joining Bird and then go lose the finals.

When would Jordan have joined Bird in this scenario?

Bostons last title with Bird was before MJ had ever won a playoff series.

MJ’s first title was after Bird won his last playoff series.

 

[trojanfan12]

He did that and lost and then won. Imagine Jordan joining Bird and then go lose the finals.

If they faced the level of competition in the finals that Lebron did...it would definitely be a possibility.

 

[DrewScott]

I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this, but if u were a gm and could draft a 20 year old MJ, Lebron, or Jokic, who ya choosing? I'd have to think long and hard about the Joker.

 

[broncosmitty]

I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this, but if u were a gm and could draft a 20 year old MJ, Lebron, or Jokic, who ya choosing? I'd have to think long and hard about the Joker.

I’d think for about two second on the Joker.

He is physically incapable of playing defense like the other two.

Love his game, but it’s not on their level.

 

[broncosmitty]

Holy hell…

They just showed a stat during the Lakers game.

Bron has more points in his 21st season than all other players who have played 21 seasons combined. That’s wild.

 

[DrewScott]

I’d think for about two second on the Joker.

He is physically incapable of playing defense like the other two.

Love his game, but it’s not on their level.

Fair enough

 

[Jordan23]

When would Jordan have joined Bird in this scenario?

Bostons last title with Bird was before MJ had ever won a playoff series.

MJ’s first title was after Bird won his last playoff series.

Love how you dig so deep into this. You don’t see the point, obviously. Lol

 

[Jordan23]

If they faced the level of competition in the finals that Lebron did...it would definitely be a possibility.

No, it wouldn’t. Jordan wanted to best the best and be the best, he wasn’t the type to leave Chicago and join the next best player.

 

[broncosmitty]

Love how you dig so deep into this. You don’t see the point, obviously. Lol

I didn’t dig at all.



You didn’t answer my question.

 

[seattlefan75]

Kind of what Lebron did to win?

I actually saw an interesting segment from an analyst that a lot of players team up to actually play Lebron James led teams to try and win.

 

[tlance]

No, it wouldn’t. Jordan wanted to best the best and be the best, he wasn’t the type to leave Chicago and join the next best player.

Let’s just ignore the fact that the Bulls were able to pay Jordan $30 million a year when the salary cap for the entire team was $28 million.

If he left, any other team would have to fit him under the salary cap. A team with other good players might be able to pay him 1/4th of what the Bulls did.

Easy to say he “wasn’t the type to leave” when he played in an era where the deck was stacked making it incredibly hard for another team to sign away a superstar free agent.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I’d think for about two second on the Joker.

He is physically incapable of playing defense like the other two.

Love his game, but it’s not on their level.

Joker in man to man D in the 80s and 90s lol

love Jokers offense but zero percent chance a team wins a finals under those rules with him

 

[Jordan23]

I didn’t dig at all.



You didn’t answer my question.

So because Wade hadn’t won you bring up birds previous titles? Ok? Was Wade a top player during that time, yes. Was Bird a top player during MJs time, yes. Do you understand? Who gives a fuck if Bird won or not, point is Jordan wasn’t going to go join the Celtics or any top player to win a title like Lebron did more than once.

 

[fightinfunbags]

So because Wade hadn’t won you bring up birds previous titles? Ok? Was Wade a top player during that time, yes. Was Bird a top player during MJs time, yes. Do you understand? Who gives a fuck if Bird won or not, point is Jordan wasn’t going to go join the Celtics or any top player to win a title like Lebron did more than once.

You don’t know that. There wasn’t any star player movement in that era. Who knows what MJ does after selling out and scoring 40s and 50s just to see failure in the playoffs.

 

[Jordan23]

You don’t know that. There wasn’t any star player movement in that era. Who knows what MJ does after selling out and scoring 40s and 50s just to see failure in the playoffs.

No they didn’t do that, that’s exactly my point. That’s what players do now. They wanna say who they get to play with. Jordan wanted to beat the best and we do know that.

 

[MilkSpiller22]

No they didn’t do that, that’s exactly my point. That’s what players do now. They wanna say who they get to play with. Jordan wanted to beat the best and we do know that.

and blame pippen for the team falling apart because pippen didnt want to take a salary cut....


But that is another point... the bulls were able to be so dominant for so long because of the salaries being so low....

When a team is that great players come willing for a paycut... they got some great players that way.... difference between now and then, is that those players are less willing to take less money...

 

[fightinfunbags]

No they didn’t do that, that’s exactly my point.

Your point should have been that they COULDN’T. They would have lost millions of dollars because of the Bird Rule.

That’s what players do now. They wanna say who they get to play with. Jordan wanted to beat the best and we do know that.

Nope. You’re romanticizing the guy.