I have made my opinion of LeBron James well known. He is the perfect example of today's superficial athlete. He has the physical talent unseen in professional basketball for a person of his size. He is a wonderful runner/dunker. He makes spectacular plays. He has an entourage. He's trying to be a global icon. We all know what he did this summer with the whole free agency/dance party debacle. Everything he does is a little too contrived for my liking. Too forced. His basketball skills are admirable. He is wonderful passer. He rebounds like a demon and he is a scorer despite many holes in his offensive game.
I just about had a fucking heart attack when Scottie Pippen had the audacity to say that LeBron is better than Michael Jordan. Huh? WTF? I know Pippen isn't the sharpest knife in the kitchen but how the hell is he making that statement?
I have spent the past couple of weeks listening to my usual sports talk channels go over the finals and in particular; LeBron and how he has played, blah, blah, blah. All the 'guest experts' agree that James is a wonderful athlete, however to compare him to Jordan is asinine.
Now of coarse I lived through the 'Jordan Years' marvelling at his greatness. Him coming from North Carolina was great enough, but I was the coach of the Jordan Scots which even made 'our connection' stronger. I told everyone we were the only school named after the great Michael Jordan, which of coarse was bullshit but … I have read at least five or more books on Jordan and despite idolizing him as a player, I have come to understand what a flawed human being he was and still is. He is a horrible person. He treats everyone in the world with such little respect that it is despicable. He believes he is above everyone and can treat them as poorly has he chooses. Being competitive is one thing but knowing that you are a better basketball player does not give you the right to dismiss everyone in all walks of life; and Jordan does this. He truly believes that he is above all people and can do and say whatever he wants to anyone. It is sad to see such a famous person be so unlikeable.
LeBron on the other hand is a seemingly nice guy. Sure he full of himself, with an ego the size of the world, but he doesn't have the personality faults that Jordan has. Jordan would kill his mother to win a game. Bron would help his grandmother across the street. Jordan's teammates hated him. Bron's teammates loved him. Jordan won six rings. LeBron hasn't won a single one. And this is the big difference between the two. Jordan willed, abused, threatened, and pretty much did whatever he wanted to his teammates in an effort to motivate them or get them to work hard enough so Jordan would be the winner. I do not believe the LBJ has that ability. Jordan stuck it out with his Bulls, even when they sucked. It took Jordan seven years to win a championship and he did it out of sure will, as opposed to changing teams and gathering two other great players to join him in an attempt to 'win' a championship. To do what LBJ did this summer, would have been seen by Jordan as admitting defeat, in that he couldn't do it himself.
And for Scottie Pippen to say that LBJ is better than MJ is astonishing, especially in the fact that without Jordan, Pippen would likely have never amounted to much as a player. Jordan made him cry daily in practice. He rode Pippen with the intent of getting the best out of him, which in turn; would give Jordan more chance to win championships. Maybe Pippen now resents Jordan for what he did but when Pippen didn't have Jordan there taking the pressure off of him, he was no where near the player he was when teamed with Jordan. He suffered with migraines (imaginary?) throughout the playoffs at many times and even quit on his team in a playoff game at a time of them needing him the most. His mental toughness has always been questioned and having Jordan there was his only chance for success. An accolades that Pippen has achieved were because of Jordan. Plain and simple. His comments concerning LBJ being allegedly better than MJ is nucking futs. Let's compare the two:
Athletically
Jordan was an extraordinary athlete. He had incredible quickness and explosiveness, as well as the ability to, seemly; hang in the air for long periods of time. He was fast, he could run forever and his conditioning was exceptional. Jordan was bouncy. He could jump tremendously high whether he was on the run, or off two feet from a standing start.
James is not the tremendous athlete that Jordan was. He is much stronger than Jordan, and he jumps very well, although he needs to have a running start to achieve his impressive vertical. He without a doubt is the faster basketball player I have ever seen. He runs the wing on the break with breath taking speed. Just imagine him as a tight end in football. He would be unstoppable. He is also an incredibly fit athlete, with the ability to play the entire game. LBJ does have some serious limitations athletically. He is not explosive. This is shown in his inability to jump well off of two feet, or to be able to drive past someone from the wing in the half court.
Slight advantage Jordan
Physically
Jordan was a freak in his family, with no one else being taller than 5'6. He was long, strong, reasonably healthy and blessed with enormous hands that allowed him to handle the ball like a tennis ball. He got much stronger throughout his career and this helped him expand his game - something that LBJ hasn't adopted.
LeBron is a physical marvel. The only other basketball player that I could say that about is Shaq. LBJ is a monster physically. To be able to do what he does at his size is incredible. Six foot eight and at least two hundred and sixty pounds and to be able to move like he does is incredible. His hands limit his handle the ball, but his strength is unstoppable.
Advantage LeBron
Fundamentals
Jordan went to UNC for three years and played for the greatest coach in the history of collage basketball. He had the luck of playing for Bob Knight in the Olympics, so he was drilled daily for three years in the fundamentals of the game by two legends. His fundamentals both offensively and defensively were impeccable.
James never spent a minute in collage and has always relied upon his physical domination to succeed.
Huge advantage Jordan
Competitiveness
Jordan had to win at everything. He once left his room at UNC and didn't come back for three days when he lost a table tennis match to his room mate. He walked out of a Bulls practice because he believed his team won a scrimmage and the coach said they lost. Winning wasn't the only thing for Jordan, it defined his life. He would do anything to win. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G!
James wants to win. He would like to win. He will try to win. He accepts losing and hopes to do better the next time. Nice.
Immeasurable advantage Jordan
Offensively
Jordan was not a great shooter at UNC, despite making the winning 20 footer in the championship game in '82. He worked hard in the off season to improve his jump shot to the point of being a very good shooter by the end of his career. He also worked on his range, increasing it to include a reasonable three point shot. His strength was taking the ball to the basket and either scoring or drawing the foul; and in many cases, both. His explosiveness was a tremendous weapon and when he added the threat of a consistent jump shot; he became literally unstoppable. In later years he worked hard in the off season to develop a post up game, which lessened the wear and tear on his body which teams battered when he drove to the basket. He was an excellent foul shooter in both percentage and in clutch situation. He was able to play both on and off the ball successfully, as well as swing over to the point guard position and facilitate the offense. He loved to score but once he had confidence in his team mates (always difficult for him), his assist number rose considerably. He was able to play in the triangle offense and still score at will within it. The Bulls didn't run a lot of isolation plays on one side of the floor with Jordan taking the ball and everyone else standing and watching him beat the other team. He was sneaky offensive rebounder who had to be checked off by the defense because he just loved to score and take advantage of any situation that he could. Jordan handled the ball well and was able to drive to the basket with either hand and finish. Michael was a marvel on the break. No one finished with the flair and consistency that MJ did. The commercials talked about a man who could fly. It had to be the shoes … right?
LeBron's offensive game is not as expansive as MJ's. He is wonderful on the break, especially on the wing, where his incredible speed and strength makes him ridiculous. He is a scorer. He gets his points because he is physically superior to everyone else. Nothing else in his offensive repertoire is above average. He is not a great shooter. He is streaky and as one brilliant coach once said, when he's hot, he never misses!" Unfortunately he is not a consistent shooter. He is not explosive and in the half court and doesn't take his man to the basket with quickness; instead he uses his considerable strength to bully his way to the hoop. He has zero post up game. ZERO! His offensive game usually consist of LBJ standing at the three point line and everyone else watching With the clock running down, he fires up a three, usually with mixed results. His mid-range game is limited. He does drive and pass to the open man exceptionally well. His vision and anticipation are incredible. LeBron is a below average free throw shooter, which may be the reason for his lack of aggression and willingness to attack the basket. LBJ is not a good offensive rebounder in that he usually at the three point line and not involved in chasing missed shots.
Huge advantage Jordan
Most of the advantages that MJ has are things that he developed in the off season. He wanted to get better and expanded his game through hard work and many hours in the gym. LBJ has not improved his offensive game much in his career. He is a better shooter than when he first entered the league but he has still not improved enough to be a consistent threat from outside. He hasn't worked on the post up game, or his mid-range game. His free throw shooting hasn't improved much. Do you see the pattern here? Jordan wanted to be the best and he worked in the off season to achieve those goals. He made himself a better offensive player.
LBJ has not worked on his game in the off season. Simple. He wants to be a global icon and in the off season he spends his time pursuing those interests. That is why I have little respect for him. He wants to win but he is not willing to pay the price to achieve those goals. Instead of him getting better and willing his team mates to greatness, he ran to another team and cajoled two other stars to join him. All the things that he is not great at, he could improve dramatically. Free throw shooting, a post up game, and an outside shot, are all areas that he could improve with work. In the off season. He simply doesn't do it. How could he be greater than MJ when he doesn't pay the price?
Defense
MJ would rather let you kill him than to allow you to score on him. He excelled at defense. His effort and desire to be a great defender never wavered. He always was an all-defensive team player.
LBJ has improved tremendously and is now considered a defensive stopper. He wasn't always that way. He still doesn't dominate games defensively, however he has become a leader on his team as a defender. He is also a great defensive rebounder.
Advantage Jordan
Mental toughness
MJ was incredibly tough mentally. He played mind games his whole career. He created mental challenges almost every night to maintain his intensity and interest. He took every slight, criticism or remark personally and turned it into a mental advantage for him. He loved the challenge. He lived for it. Mentally, he was every bit as strong as Tiger Woods and that is to say something.
LBJ is too sensitive to be mentally tough. He takes every criticism and remark to heart and either pouts, whines or quits when the going gets tough.
Huge advantage Jordan
Championships
Jordan 6
James 0
Immeasurable advantage Jordan
Let's count the score.
Jordan 7 - competitiveness, athleticism, fundamentals, offense, defense, mental toughness, and championships,
LeBron 1 - physicalness
Hmm? How the fuck could Pippen come to the conclusion that LBJ is greater than MJ? I told you he wasn't that bright.
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