LeBron James: More Like Michael Jordan Or Magic Johnson?

At the ripe old age of 30, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is already one of the greats in NBA history. Who does he most remind you of though?

One of the more anticipated exercises a basketball mind loves to partake in is comparing great ballers to one another.

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Whether it’s on the streets, in high school or in the NBA, when it comes to the greats of the game, the aura that surrounds them is limitless. They become larger than life and each possesses such a specific and familiar skill-set which naturally lends to comparisons.

For the younger generation who remembers Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls showcased so often on NBC’s big Sunday afternoon games, he remains the gold standard.

If Jordan is the standard at off guard, then Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain occupy the 5. Larry Bird will be brought up anytime a tall, scrappy shooter gets called out and Magic Johnson as the point man.

Each postion has its own prototype.

For example, when Kobe Bryant started to rise to legendary prominence, the easy comparison was to Jordan — and it wasn’t only because of Kobe’s unnatural obsession with MJ. When most think of a guy to compare Dirk Nowitzki to, Bird comes to mind. And Shaquille O’Neal had always drawn comparisons to Chamberlain.

The interesting comparison comes in the form of the best player on the planet in Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James.

James is a flat out freak. At 6-foot-8 and as solid as they come, his athleticism and off-ball position brings up the name Jordan. Because he’s also the top player on the planet, coming off of Kobe’s couple year run as possibly the best in the game, the Jordan comparison was too easy.

Mar 12, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Since MJ, the only thing the younger fans want to find and see is the next Jordan.

The problem is James is so much more than just the Jordan prototype.

Unlike MJ, LeBron is just as much a facilitator as a scorer. His court vision and basketball IQ is completely off the charts which makes everybody around him that much better (see the pathetic 2007 Cavs for proof).

Also unlike Jordan, James hasn’t developed that assassin-like mid-range game Jordan so heavily relied upon once some of his quickness left his aging body. While Jordan was never the best three-point man in the league, his pure shooting is head and shoulders better than LeBron’s.

The other legendary comparison that gets brought up when LeBron is talked about is that of Magic Johnson.

Like Magic, LeBron’s awareness in all situations of the game and extraordinary passing makes the two men equal. In addition, Johnson’s 6-foot-9 frame is more like LeBron’s as well, for they both can play the point (and any other position on the court for that matter).

The problem? Magic was a butcher shooting the ball and his defense was nothing to scream home about. Johnson got by as the leader of showtime and his uncanny leadership abilities while James has arguably been the top defender in the games since he walked on an NBA floor.

James can do things on the court that Magic could only dream of.

James still routinely guards the top player from the opposing team on a nightly basis. A quality that is very overlooked, especially during this 2015 MVP race for instance.

The short answer is this: LeBron James can be compared to nobody. He is a prototype of his own — one that will be looked towards in the future to be replicated and duplicated.

Some bring up the name of Oscar Robertson as the closest match. Sure, it’s most definitely conceivable as the Big O averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game for his career. James’ stateline is currently 27.4 points, 6.9 assists and 7.1 rebounds.

Even their shots per game are very similar: Robertson at 18.9 shots per game with a .489 field goal percentage; and James at 18.2 shots per game with a .496 field goal percentage.

This type of efficiency pales in comparison to Kobe’s 19.6 shots per game and .451 field goal percentage. While Jordan’s field goal percentage mirrors LeBron’s (.497), they are nothing alike as ballers.

So, the next time your friends try to start an intelligent conversation on the blacktop about who LeBron mostly resembles throughout the great history of the game, be the smartest man in the room and tell those fools that he is his the most unique legend we’ve ever laid eyes on.

No, he is not the next Michael Jordan, and he doesn’t remind us of Magic Johnson.

If there’s one guy that could possibly be brought up, it is Oscar Robertson. Aside from that stretch of a comparison, James is his own prototype.

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