LeBron >>>>>>>>>> Michael Jordan

[peternorth]

there is only one way to resolve this issue - create jordan in a game* and play him off against lebron.


* game can be nba live or 2k (and that's another debate all over again)

 

[Chadwiko]

Not even close. Jordan is rightfully called the greatest basketballer ever, and one of the greatest athletes ever.

6 championships, numerous MVPs, Olympics medals, clutch win after clutch win... the list goes on.

Realistically, after several years in the NBA, besides MVP, what has LBJ achieved?

 

[WALL-e]

Until LBJ starts getting rings, these comparrisons will keep getting shut down.

He's a freak of nature hough.

 

[Borgsta]

I must say, I find it amazing what LBJ has been able to do with the teams he's been on. Has he yet played on a team that has had another all star on it whilst playing with LBJ? Amazing. This is why I find it such a joke that people compare Kobe with LBJ. When Kobe had no Shaq, the Lakers were mediocre and Kobe was whining and jacking up 30 shots a game. LBJ in a team that I would argue is certainly not much better than what Kobe was on (without Shaq) has taken his team to the NBA finals, Conference Finals and now the Finals (prob championship). Amazing.

Lebron has a very very solid cast around him this year. He is an absolute gun but his teammates this year are much better than previously.

When they made the finals the whole East was a joke.

 

[robd]

Until LBJ starts getting rings, these comparrisons will keep getting shut down.

this is 100% the truth.

i will find this discussion, and also the entire Kobe vs Lebron debate, a lot more interesting if/when Lebron wins a title. For years people held back annointing Kobe as the next MJ because he couldn't lead his team to success, yet everyone is quite happy to put Lebron on that level even though he hasn't won a single Finals game? doesn't make sense to me.

 

[peternorth]

jerry west sez hed take lebron over kobe right now.

unrelated i know

 

[robd]

^^^yeah I saw that. here's the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4178437

Part of me thinks West said that just to fire up Kobe. West is one of Kobe's biggest heroes, always has been, and West knows that. If Kobe hears that West said that, he'll see red.

 

[celtic_pride]

i think if lakers fans were to be honest, they would acknowlege LBJ has gone past Kobe.

 

[WALL-e]

Not until he gets the bling on the finger he hasn't

 

[peternorth]

i think if lakers fans were to be honest, they would acknowlege LBJ has gone past Kobe.

yes right now lebron, kobe....the rest

 

[Karl Pilkington]

Not until he gets the bling on the finger he hasn't

You're putting too much emphasis on that alone.

Fact is Kobe couldn't get out of the first round with the supporting cast's LeBron has been working with. Jordan wouldn't have either.

 

[mdc]

yes right now lebron, wade, cp3....the rest

edited for non-homerism.

 

[WALL-e]

You're putting too much emphasis on that alone.

Fact is Kobe couldn't get out of the first round with the supporting cast's LeBron has been working with. Jordan wouldn't have either.

Can't prove that and don't discount Big Z, Mo, and a very well structured cast. The Cavs management had built a good team.

 

[Cruiser23]

You're putting too much emphasis on that alone.

Fact is Kobe couldn't get out of the first round with the supporting cast's LeBron has been working with. Jordan wouldn't have either.

How the hell is that fact?

 

[Hodges]

Yeah thats conjecture.

As it stands right now, LeBron is playing at a higher level than Kobe. Kobe is the better player over their respective careers, though LeBron is a fair chance of passing him when its all said and done.

It all comes down to the rings.

 

[celtic_pride]

I would like to point out as well, Kobe hasn't/couldn't win a ring without the Big Cactus (yet ...)

I agree with KP to a point, I think Jordan could have done just as well with the current structure/set-up in the Cavs as LBJ, but we will never know for sure ...

But to be honest, LBJ hasn't got an teammate (yet) of the calibre of Scottie Pippen, so I think that gives Lebron extra credit.

 

[Karl Pilkington]

But to be honest, LBJ hasn't got an teammate (yet) of the calibre of Scottie Pippen, so I think that gives Lebron extra credit.

That's really my main point here.

Jordan/Pippen
Bird/McHale
Magic/Kareem
Shaq/Kobe

LeBron....?

 

[Hodges]

I would like to point out as well, Kobe hasn't/couldn't win a ring without the Big Cactus (yet ...)

I agree with KP to a point, I think Jordan could have done just as well with the current structure/set-up in the Cavs as LBJ, but we will never know for sure ...

But to be honest, LBJ hasn't got an teammate (yet) of the calibre of Scottie Pippen, so I think that gives Lebron extra credit.

I think your first point is moot - rings are won as a team, individuals within the team shouldnt diminish that fact. Kobe has three rings, LeBron currently has zero. He should have one by the time this season is over though.

Another point too - LBJ is a very different player too MJ and Kobe. Due to his size and strength he is very good at playing the 4 spot. Due to the threat he poses down there, your better off stacking the team with good outside shooters, as opposed to one Pippen type player. Williams, West, Wally, Sasha, Gibson - they can all shoot the three ball well (maybe not Sasha, but the rest can). Even his bigman can shoot the outside shot well.

He may not have that second superstar player, but the team he has fits his game-style perfectly.

 

[robd]

That's really my main point here.

Jordan/Pippen
Bird/McHale
Magic/Kareem
Shaq/Kobe

LeBron....?

ummm, all those duos won multiple titles. you are making that comparison as if Lebron is already a three time champion. he's not. and he never will be until "Lebron..." becomes "Lebron [insert multiple all-star sidekick here]"

 

[Karl Pilkington]

ummm, all those duos won multiple titles. you are making that comparison as if Lebron is already a three time champion. he's not. and he never will be until "Lebron..." becomes "Lebron [insert multiple all-star sidekick here]"

So you think LeBron is going to need an awesome sidekick to win multiple titles?

I don't.

I'm saying he's playing at a level right now where I am prepared to make that prediction.

 

[robd]

So you think LeBron is going to need an awesome sidekick to win multiple titles?

I don't.

I'm saying he's playing at a level right now where I am prepared to make that prediction.

i do think he will need a sidekick - i don't know about an "awesome" sidekick on the level of a Pippen/McHale, but certainly someone better than Mo Williams. Someone on the level of a Pau Gasol.

If Lebron wins a title this year it is probably the most impressive one-man effort I've seen in my life. The only thing that comes close is Tim Duncan in 2003, who had a shadow of a David Robinson, and Tony Parker and Manu well before they were stars. Hell, Stephen Jackson might have been the Spurs second best player in those Finals.

 

[celtic_pride]

My god ...

How many times will that Shot by Lebron today be repeated over the years, like MJ's buzzer beater over the (ironicially) Cavs in 1989 !!!

The man is a dead set freak, and despite all the haters he has now, I love watching him play ...

My spine is still tingling ...

 

[Borgsta]

You guys are very harsh on Mo Williams. He is a very good player for this team along with a bunch of very very good role players.

DWest, Big Z and Varejo play their roles to perfection for the most part and whilst their bench has sucked this series they were quite good up until this point.

1 advantage Lebron has is he knows what he is going to get from his teammates. Kobe rocks up every night wondering if he is going to play with 2 of the softest men in basketball (Pau and Odom), if Bynum is going to have 3 fouls in 4 minutes of play and if anyone other than Fish is going to be able to knock down shots. His cast are possibly the most infruiating teammates out there, going from very solid players to a pack of morons in a matter of minutes.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

Probably depends on whether or not the Cavs win the series.

Also, a lot of people in this thread were saying that Kobe would always take a game winner and that Lebron never does.

I think Lebron reads bigfooty.

 

[94_Eagles]

No.

Amazatron shot tho. Witness.