We all agree that both Jordan and Lebron played in the modern era, right?

[bond10]

True.

Jordan played in the UNSPACED phase of the modern era, which is a tougher era than today's SPACED phase of the modern era.. Lebron and Curry achieve their stats with teammates spacing the floor (their teams attempted 30 threes per game), while Jordan achieved his stats without teammates spacing the floor (1991 Bulls took 5 threes per game).

So you're spot on - MJ's stats would explode in today's spacing.. Just look at Lebron and Westbrook - MJ was a superathlete like they are, but they can't shoot, whereas he had goat midrange efficiency, better than Curry's.. Essentially, MJ had Lebron/Westbrook's athleticism and better midrange shooting than Steph Curry.

And a killer instinct, game closing ability that none of those guys have. If the game is down to the last minutes, every non Bulls fan shat their pants if MJ had the ball. Can't say the same for Westbrook, Curry, or Lebron.

[ShawkFactory]

1978 basketball is about the same as 1984 basketball, just like 1998 basketball is about the same as 2004 basketball.

Tbh, in 1978, it was harder to score in the paint because there was no 3-point line.. The 3-point line gave players a marker for what was considered "perimeter" - so players naturally stood further from the hoop, regardless of whether they used the line or actually stood behind the line or not.

[Smoke117]

Kareem > Lebron >>> Jordan

[PP34Deuce]

The meltdown is so real in this thread. 3ball, warrior fan grasping for straws.

No one cares about this.

Lebron led Cleveland to beating golden state and coming back from 3-1 deficit. Lebron had 2 back to back 40 point games and had triple doubles while preventing golden state to enter the paint.

You can try as hard as you want but even his "haters" have shut up because you can't take this away from him.

[TheWinningFam]

Jordan colluded with the white sox to avoid the rockets
Also saying 1998 and 2004 is basically the same is beyond retarded, thats over half a decade later

[TheWinningFam]

Havlicek and Jordan played in the same era until the mid-late 90's when no one that Havlicek played against was in the league anymore.

In Lebron/Jordan's case, I'd say 2016 is the final year they have in common, since both Duncan and Kobe just retired.

It's funny how the best wing Lebron ever played against was a copycat, poor-man's Jordan... That tells you everything you need to know.

Durant and leonard and butler are already better wings than kobe
Jordan colluded with the white sox to avoid the rockets.
And lebron destroyed kobe in head to head matchups both statistically and record wise

Kobe is 6-16 vs lebron...

[3ball]

Havlicek and Jordan played in the same era until the mid-late 90's when no one that Havlicek played against was in the league anymore.

In Lebron/Jordan's case, I'd say 2016 is the final year they have in common, since both Duncan and Kobe just retired (arguably the top 2 players Lebron ever played against, who Jordan destroyed).

It's funny how the best wing Lebron ever played against was a copycat, poor-man's Jordan... That tells you everything you need to know.. Again - since both Jordan and Lebron played in the modern era and against many of the same players, we can use ring count and fmvp's to determine who was better.

Btw, you should be glad we're discussing basketball on this forum - before that last post, you were unaware of how the EXISTENCE of a 3-point line provides more spacing than otherwise, even if the players don't stand fully behind the line or shoot threes.. Obviously, in today's game, players both stand behind the line AND shoot threes extensively, which makes for a wide open, soft game where players make less contact.

[PP34Deuce]

I think what is hilarious is that most people agree and feel MJ is the better player.

I believe Michael Jordan is a better player than Lebron James.

I do think Lebron James is the most naturally talented player we've ever seen. I also feel if you had a team of nobodies, Lebron is more likely easier to build around than an MJ.

Lebron is rare in that on offense he can be: PG, Point Forward, slasher
On defense he can be: sometimes anchor, weak side, man-to-man, post defender etc.

legit 6'8 260 pounds with athletic marvels, Lebron can effectively play defense at any point from 1-5.

[Smoke117]

Kareem > Lebron >>> Jordan

This.

[bond10]

I think what is hilarious is that most people agree and feel MJ is the better player.

I believe Michael Jordan is a better player than Lebron James.

I do think Lebron James is the most naturally talented player we've ever seen. I also feel if you had a team of nobodies, Lebron is more likely easier to build around than an MJ.

Lebron is rare in that on offense he can be: PG, Point Forward, slasher
On defense he can be: sometimes anchor, weak side, man-to-man, post defender etc.

legit 6'8 260 pounds with athletic marvels, Lebron can effectively play defense at any point from 1-5.

That is so overblown.

[ShawkFactory]

Havlicek and Jordan played in the same era until the mid-late 90's when no one that Havlicek played against was in the league anymore.

In Lebron/Jordan's case, I'd say 2016 is the final year they have in common, since both Duncan and Kobe just retired (arguably the top 2 players Lebron ever played against, who Jordan destroyed).

It's funny how the best wing Lebron ever played against was a copycat, poor-man's Jordan... That tells you everything you need to know.. Again - since both Jordan and Lebron played in the modern era and against many of the same players, we can use ring count and fmvp's to determine who was better.

Btw, you should be glad we're discussing basketball on this forum - before that last post, you were unaware of how the EXISTENCE of a 3-point line provides more spacing than otherwise, even if the players don't stand fully behind the line or shoot threes.. Obviously, in today's game, players both stand behind the line AND shoot threes extensively, which makes for a wide open, soft game where players make less contact.

...to that entire post.

[3ball]

Lebron led Cleveland to beating golden state and coming back from 3-1 deficit.

the haters can't take that away from him

Lebron needed 7 games, which makes him LESS dominant, not more dominant.

7 games was needed because he only averaged 24 ppg and 6 turnovers through 4 games - then he came back by averaging 36 ppg for the last 3 games.

But if he averaged 36 ppg for the ENTIRE SERIES like Jordan did in 1991-1993 Finals (36/7/8), then he wouldn't need a 7th game, like Jordan.

3ball and warriorfan grasping at straws

Just stating facts - Jordan won his last ring only 6 years before Lebron entered the league, so both guys played against many of the same players.

Jordan even dominated and won all the awards over the best players Lebron played against, most notably Shaq.. So since both MJ and Lebron played in the modern era, we can use ring count and fmvp's to determine the better player.

[TheWinningFam]

That is so overblown.

Not really.

In the 2012 and 13 finals he frequently guarded all 5 positions on the court..

And even in some moments in the 16 finals

[3ball]

...to that entire post.

Ultimately, since the list of players in Jordan's era (including the 4 best players that Lebron ever played against) is equal or better than today's top players, it's clear that BOTH guys played in the modern era, which means we can use ring count and fmvp's to determine who was better.

[Smoke117]

We can all agree that Lebron has surpassed Jordan, right guys?