For years Michael Jordan had been officially known as the greatest basketball player of all time, with six championships, six Final MVP’s, five NBA MVPs, was a fourteen time NBA ALL STAR, nine time NBA All-Defensive First Team, and ten time ALL-NBA First Team. That was before star Lebron James entered the league back in 2003.
Fresh out of high school Lebron James was the first pick in the 2003 NBA draft and was selected by The Cleveland Cavaliers. Lebron averaged 20.9 points per game, 5.9 assist per game, and 5.5 rebounds per game in his rookie year, but Cleveland failed to make it to the playoffs. Lebron won the Rookie of the Year award.
In Jordan’s rookie year, he averaged 28.2 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game, leading The Chicago Bulls to the playoffs but lost to The Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Jordan was selected to play in his first All-Star game, and won the Rookie of the Year award.
Jordan outscored Lebron his rookie year in points and rebounds while making the All-Star game in his rookie year, something Lebron failed to do. Although Jordan was 21, and had three years of college experience at North Carolina where he won a College Championship, before entering the league. Lebron came straight out of high school to the NBA at only 18 years old with three years less experience than Jordan.
In Jordan’s seventh season with the Bulls he was able to get his first ring in 1991 with the help of Hall of Famer Small Forward Scottie Pippen, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a three-peat. It took Lebron eleven seasons until the star was able to win his first two championships, 2012 and 2013. Lebron was able to win back to back championships with the help of Hall of Famers, Guard Dwayne Wade, Shooting Guard Ray Allen, and Center Chris Bosh.
Jordan then achieved another three-peat winning in 96, 97, and 1998 with Hall of Famers Forward Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, and superstar Steve Kerr, this team is considered to be one of the greatest in NBA history. Jordan then retired the next season ending the Bulls dynasty.
Going back to where he all started it, Lebron won his third ring with the Cleveland Cavaliers fighting the Golden State Warriors with the best NBA record of All time, 73-9. Steph Curry and the Warriors dominated the Cavaliers in the first 4 games leading 3-1 in the series, Lebron James, Kevin Love, and a young Kyrie Irving then did the impossible and made history, being the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
Four years later in the 2019-2020 season, Lebron and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in the Final, even with the COVID shut down, securing the fourth ring of his career. On February seventh, 2023 Lebron surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar for the All-Time Scoring Leader, and currently is the only NBA player to ever score 40,000+ points leaving Jordan at fifth All-Time.
Sophomore Varsity Basketball Player Tynoa Allen places Lebron as his NBA G.O.A.T. and said, “I grew up watching him, he has been an inspiration and after he took the all-time scoring title passing Kareem, it was clear he is the greatest of all time.”
Lebron achieved his third ring in thirteen seasons, fell behind Jordan who won three rings in his ninth season, and then proceeded to win three more in three years leaving Lebron trailing. Jordan who is 6-0 in the NBA Finals surpasses Lebron who has been in the finals ten times and has only won four of his finals series.
The Lakers being a first round exit, losing the series 4-1 against the former NBA champs the Denver Nuggets, concluding Lebron’s 21st season in the NBA and bringing up the question, is Lebron going to finally retire?
