The "Best Ever" Debate Begins
The very concept that this subject has come up already is almost unbelievable.
Just as there could never possibly be another Gretzky or Ali, the very idea that so soon after his retirement, people would already be wondering if basketball's "best ever" could lose that moniker is ridiculous right?
After all Michael Jordan won five MVP awards, was named to ten All-NBA First Teams, nine All-Defensive First Teams, fourteen NBA All-Star Games, won three All-Star MVP's, ten scoring titles, three steals titles and six NBA Finals MVP awards. ESPN named him the greatest athlete of the 20th century and AP placed him second only behind Babe frikin' Ruth!
Yet here we are.
He's maybe a pretender to the throne, but if there has ever been anyone who had a better shot, it's this guy. Only six years after receiving his diploma from St. Mary-St. Vincent high school in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James had another ceremony on the very same stage ? he was awarded his first NBA MVP award.
Remarkably it seems like it has been a long time coming.
Eighteen when he was selected with the number one pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was already set for life with a $90 million shoe contract with Nike before ever stepping on an NBA court. Regardless, that first year he earned the Rookie of the Year title. In 2008 he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 points ? breaking Kevin Garnett's old record by more than a year. In 2009, the Cavs had their best record ever with LeBron leading the team in all five major statistical categories - total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Now he has more than a good shot at making his second NBA finals and all this six months before his 25th birthday. That last stat may be the most significant in the now-to-be-constant comparisons between he and Jordan ? because No. 23 didn't make his first finals until his seventh season when he was 28. He won, and went on to win five more.
Things are playing out for LeBron in a similar fashion. Jordan came to the league just as Magic Johnson's and Larry Bird's careers were winding down. James will be coming into his prime precisely when current icons Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan call it a day. Jordan was the NBA's marquee player for more than a decade and for the duration; there wasn't anyone even close (Dominque? Clyde? Charles?) to him in individual talent or marquee value. James is going to be in precisely the same situation very soon.
And like Jordan at a similar age, he's getting better. James' one weakness up until now was his jump shot. Working long hours over the summer preparing for the Olympics, and benefiting from college level coaches who know how to teach, he improved vastly this season. Now he's got the complete package of power (he's far stronger than Jordan ever was), touch, (he's got more Magic in him that Jordan did), and defensive ability (he was named the runner-up for the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year title), he's as close there's been to an unstoppable force in the NBA since, well, Michael Jordan.
Like Jordan, early in his career he's been excelling individually while playing on a sub-par squad. This year especially Cleveland improved around him ending the season with the league's best record - even though Mo Williams is no Scottie Pippen.
How would they do head-to-head? When Jordan was playing he was listed as 6-foot-6 and weighed 216 pounds. James is 6-8 and 250 - which is bigger than most NFL linemen.
Jordan was the better athlete. James is way more dominating inside.
Jordan was the better scorer averaging over 30 points a game for his career. James is more well rounded with 23 career triple-doubles already - just three less than Jordan had over his.
Jordan had his patented pull-up jumper. James is the better three-point shooter.
Jordan was the greatest defender ever. James has improved every year, and with his size and bulk he takes on far bigger and more dangerous opponents.
Jordan scored in the double digits for 866 career games. Six years into his career, James has scored 12,993 points. Projected out ? if he retires when at the same age Jordan did, he will shatter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career record of 38,387 points.
So ? is it possible we might be truly all be "witnesses" to history?
First we have to throw away all the above stats, toss out the iconic posters, the commercials and bicep comparisons because what it all comes down to is winning.
Michael Jordan won six NBA Championships, and earned each and every one of his six NBA Championship MVP titles.
LeBron has none of either and until he does this debate can't truly even begin.
Michael Jordan's biography on the NBA's website begins, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."
True ? until it's not.
Cheers ? Gavin McDougald ? AKA Couch
The very concept that this subject has come up already is almost unbelievable.
Just as there could never possibly be another Gretzky or Ali, the very idea that so soon after his retirement, people would already be wondering if basketball's "best ever" could lose that moniker is ridiculous right?
After all Michael Jordan won five MVP awards, was named to ten All-NBA First Teams, nine All-Defensive First Teams, fourteen NBA All-Star Games, won three All-Star MVP's, ten scoring titles, three steals titles and six NBA Finals MVP awards. ESPN named him the greatest athlete of the 20th century and AP placed him second only behind Babe frikin' Ruth!
Yet here we are.
He's maybe a pretender to the throne, but if there has ever been anyone who had a better shot, it's this guy. Only six years after receiving his diploma from St. Mary-St. Vincent high school in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James had another ceremony on the very same stage ? he was awarded his first NBA MVP award.
Remarkably it seems like it has been a long time coming.
Eighteen when he was selected with the number one pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was already set for life with a $90 million shoe contract with Nike before ever stepping on an NBA court. Regardless, that first year he earned the Rookie of the Year title. In 2008 he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 points ? breaking Kevin Garnett's old record by more than a year. In 2009, the Cavs had their best record ever with LeBron leading the team in all five major statistical categories - total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Now he has more than a good shot at making his second NBA finals and all this six months before his 25th birthday. That last stat may be the most significant in the now-to-be-constant comparisons between he and Jordan ? because No. 23 didn't make his first finals until his seventh season when he was 28. He won, and went on to win five more.
Things are playing out for LeBron in a similar fashion. Jordan came to the league just as Magic Johnson's and Larry Bird's careers were winding down. James will be coming into his prime precisely when current icons Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan call it a day. Jordan was the NBA's marquee player for more than a decade and for the duration; there wasn't anyone even close (Dominque? Clyde? Charles?) to him in individual talent or marquee value. James is going to be in precisely the same situation very soon.
And like Jordan at a similar age, he's getting better. James' one weakness up until now was his jump shot. Working long hours over the summer preparing for the Olympics, and benefiting from college level coaches who know how to teach, he improved vastly this season. Now he's got the complete package of power (he's far stronger than Jordan ever was), touch, (he's got more Magic in him that Jordan did), and defensive ability (he was named the runner-up for the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year title), he's as close there's been to an unstoppable force in the NBA since, well, Michael Jordan.
Like Jordan, early in his career he's been excelling individually while playing on a sub-par squad. This year especially Cleveland improved around him ending the season with the league's best record - even though Mo Williams is no Scottie Pippen.
How would they do head-to-head? When Jordan was playing he was listed as 6-foot-6 and weighed 216 pounds. James is 6-8 and 250 - which is bigger than most NFL linemen.
Jordan was the better athlete. James is way more dominating inside.
Jordan was the better scorer averaging over 30 points a game for his career. James is more well rounded with 23 career triple-doubles already - just three less than Jordan had over his.
Jordan had his patented pull-up jumper. James is the better three-point shooter.
Jordan was the greatest defender ever. James has improved every year, and with his size and bulk he takes on far bigger and more dangerous opponents.
Jordan scored in the double digits for 866 career games. Six years into his career, James has scored 12,993 points. Projected out ? if he retires when at the same age Jordan did, he will shatter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career record of 38,387 points.
So ? is it possible we might be truly all be "witnesses" to history?
First we have to throw away all the above stats, toss out the iconic posters, the commercials and bicep comparisons because what it all comes down to is winning.
Michael Jordan won six NBA Championships, and earned each and every one of his six NBA Championship MVP titles.
LeBron has none of either and until he does this debate can't truly even begin.
Michael Jordan's biography on the NBA's website begins, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."
True ? until it's not.
Cheers ? Gavin McDougald ? AKA Couch
