Why LeBron catching Kareem does not make him better than Jordan
Team and individual success
It is all about productivity and success. We know how they have performed so let’s compare trophy cabinets. While relatively close, Jordan has more championships, regular season and Finals MVPs, and NBA All-Defensive recognitions. The only category in which Jordan tramples James is in scoring titles (9-1). Given his longevity and durability, James has had more All-Star and All-NBA selections.
What makes Jordan’s accolades impressive, and what makes him great is the era in which he played. A true basketball fan knows the rough nature of the NBA in the 80s and 90s when Jordan was active. The game was far more physical and ruled by big men. For a smaller guard such as Jordan to successfully threepeat on two occasions with a flawless finals record is already a feat in itself. But the competition he faced solidifies how great those runs were.
Some notable foes include the Lakers with Magic Johnson and James Worthy, the Suns with a young Charles Barkley, the Sonics led by Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp, and the Jazz team that starred John Stockton and swept Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers. Without fail, Jordan rose to the occasion when called for and led his team to victory each time he reached the Finals,
LeBron James making ten Finals appearances, eight of which happened consecutively, is no easy task and is worthy of applause. A lot would give him praise for his ability to turn a bad team into a championship contender. But that is not hard to do when every team he has played for was built for him to succeed.
During his time in Miami and Cleveland, it became evident that pieces were acquired to cater to his needs and lust for championships. Aside from the superstars that became allies, players such as Mike Miller, James Jones, and even Dwyane Wade, who worked well with James in Miami, would later rejoin him in Cleveland.
A Cavaliers team that was 1-1 against the Golden State Warriors in consecutive NBA Finals before Golden State formed a super team by acquiring Kevin Durant– a trend that began when LeBron went to Miami, joined forces with Wade and Chris Bosh, and promised “not one, not two, not three” championships.
James is 4-6 in the NBA Finals. That said, he has lost as much as Michael Jordan has won when competing in a championship series. It is a little-known fact that on his second Finals appearance and his first with the Heat, James was outscored by Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks. This in itself speaks to how, unlike Jordan, LeBron sometimes has failed to step up when it matters.
Let’s take a deeper look at this point.