To The Victors, Go The Spoils.
The debate for all-time best between LeBron James and Michael Jordan is not as complicated as you would think. For today’s generation of NBA fans who think the league began when James entered it, you genuinely lack the requisite knowledge of the game before 2003.
In the summer of 1998, the dynasty that was the Chicago Bulls ended. General manager Jerry Krause prematurely decided to close the chapter on one of the top NBA teams to ever win a championship, leaving a void in the national consciousness, and putting to bed the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Los Angeles Lakers dynasty of the 1980s and 1990s. With it, the greatest to play the game began to fade. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, the Bad Boys in Detroit, Kareem, Magic, and James Worthy. Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and Reggie Miller. Easily the best representation of the game the sports world has known.
“Make It Happen.” – Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan played 15 seasons in the league he revolutionized. Bringing serious and casual fans to the game, he dominated like no other. A six-time NBA champion and six-time Finals MVP, Jordan was a dominant figure on and off the court. Beyond the game, he was a cultural and commercial icon. On August 8, 1991, Gatorade released the ad “Be Like Mike”. The initial partnership was for 10 years and paid Jordan $13.5 million. The newest Gatorade edition features Jordan, Caitlin Clark, and A’ja Wilson.
“It’s Got To Be The Shoes!”
Perhaps the brand built around MJ, a brand known globally, and a signature never to be duplicated or matched is Nike. In 2023, the Jumpman logo netted Jordan nearly $500 million. The value of the partnership is mammoth, and in the last several years, sales have exploded.
The sales blitz was something never seen before or sense. Whatever Michael Jordan touched was gold. He was a shrewd, knowing image, along with a game of gold, had an inherent value. He knew, unlike James, that wading into politics was a Fool’s Paradise. When Jordan was asked to endorse North Carolina Senate candidate Harvey Gant, the backlash was significant, but short-lived. When pressed on the matter about supporting a Democratic over a Republican, Jordan deftly replied, “Republicans buy sneakers too.”
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan
June 14, 1998 – Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
With 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter, John Stockton would hit a three-pointer to give Utah an 86-83 lead. Michael Jordan, with ice water running through his veins, would go to the basket for a layup to cut the lead to 87-85 with the game clock under 20 seconds.
With 18.9 left on the clock, the Jazz had possession when Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone low in the post and dribbled down court, guarded by Bryon Russell. With 5.2 seconds left in the fourth and final quarter of game 6, Jordan would launch a 20 footer to help Chicago to an 87-86 lead. The Jazz would call a timeout to set up a final play. Stockton would take the inbound pass and heave a three point game winner, but all for naught. The Bulls would hang on, and close out the Utah Jazz in six games.
It was poetic.
It was a fitting end.
It was the end of an era not to be seen again.
Bob Costas of NBC Sports had the call:
“That may have been, who knows what will unfold over the next several months, but that may have been the last shot Michael Jordan will ever take in the NBA.”
15 seasons, six NBA Championships, with not one of those six series championships going seven games. The Bulls at Jazz Game Six was the most watched and highest rated game in the history of the NBA. By contrast, the 2003 NBA Finals had a mere 11.5 million viewers, while Jordan’s last championship game had 72 million watchers.
We Are All Witnesses.
Four teams, four championships. The self-professed “King” has evolved in many ways since an assisted explosion into the national sports consciousness. The 2003 first overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers is often compared to Michael Jordan. It’s a curious comparison when given the contrast of both.
First, James has been the benefactor of a fawning press, constant media exposure, and forgiveness for not being as great as media shills would tell you he is. In this most recently completed regular season, James became skilled at providing excuses for losing.
“At The End Of the Day, It’s Just Basketball.”
For a player considered the greatest of all time, what the media and fans witnessed in a postgame presser after another loss to Denver, is a tone and concession you would not expect. When asked about his team’s poor play and impending exit from another playoff round, the King replied, “at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.”
In Los Angeles, and to all those who genuflect at his altar each day, the comments were stunning. To the garden variety NBA fan, the admission was a further validation that James is “not all that”, to those who watched Jordan, the reality was merely enforced.
Was it his last championship? If it was, his last moment of Finals glory has already been written.
October 11, 2000 – AdventHealth Arena, Bay Lake, FL
In the bizarre season that was COVID, the Los Angeles Lakers would win the NBA Finals in six-games against the Miami Heat 106-93. LeBron James would win his fourth Finals MVP.
Game Six saw James put together a well-rounded effort, scoring 28 points, posting 14 rebounds and 10 assists. The Lakers would earn their 17th championship and first in ten seasons. James would post a respectable season despite the pandemic. In the NBA Finals alone, he averaged 29.8 points with 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists.
“Are You Not Entertained?”
Michael Jordan and LeBron James are a debate completed. Jordan has never lost a championship, winning six and never having to play a game seven. For his part, James has four rings in four championships in 10 tries.
As for numbers, James is a rebounding and assist machine. Jordan meanwhile is a more prolific scorer, especially in the biggest of games. Jordan is also the best of the two defensively, leading the league in steals three times in his career. James hasn’t come close.
LeBron James has played in more games, 1,492 to Jordan’s 1,072 which easily accounts for James holding more a higher point total of 40,474 to 32,292,
At the end of the day, the numbers are what they are. To be the greatest you need to have shaped the game, defined it, and made it better for those who came after. The best is in the example displayed night in and night out, championship win to championship win.
One last note worth considering is the media. LeBron James benefits from a 24 sports news cycle, social media, and real-time highlights on YouTube and whatever Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, fan sites cater to James. Michael Jordan is still the most recognizable sports figure worldwide and hasn’t been in the game since April 16, 2003. In 2024, he was still the voice of a new Gatorade campaign simply because no one else, no other brand dominates like the fingerprint of Jordan. Not now, not ever.