For many years, Michael Jordan was considered the greatest basketball player of all-time. It didn't come immediately and Jordan had to work hard to overtake names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Irving for that title. Now, the debate is raging over who is better -- Michael Jordan or LeBron James? However, the arguments are solid on both sides, and one wonders what LeBron has to do to win over his detractors.
Michael Jordan
LeBron James himself said that he is chasing ghosts, meaning the accomplishments of Michael Jordan in the NBA. Jordan won six MVP awards, compared to James' four.
Jordan won six NBA titles compared to James' three, and was the MVP of every series his Chicago Bulls won.
Michael Jordan finished his career in Washington but he won all his championships with the Chicago Bulls and they were built with a roster of talent that worked to make Jordan even greater in the eyes of fans. Two of the NBA Championships that LeBron James won came with a superteam he built in Miami. If he creates a superteam in Cleveland after this season, it could hurt his status as the GOAT more than helping by winning titles with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Tristan Thompson.
LeBron James hurt his standing with many fans when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers to chase a ring by creating his super team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
James needs to remain in Cleveland for the rest of his career and win right instead of just buying star players to help him win.
LeBron James
One of Michael Jordan's contemporaries has already come to the decision that LeBron James is the greatest of all-time. Detroit Pistons Hall of Fame star Isiah Thomas lost to Michel Jordan and the Chicago Bulls three times in the playoffs, and he believes that LeBron has already surpassed MJ as the best basketball player of all-time.
Of course, Thomas said that it is more than talent on the basketball court and said that LeBron James is like Muhammad Ali when it comes to working outside of the game. That speaks volumes in terms of what Thomas thinks of Michael Jordan and his work in terms of social issues.
When it comes to working on the NBA court, LeBron James broke Jordan's playoff scoring record already this year and he is building on that total in the NBA Finals.
If James is able to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their second straight come-from-behind championship over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, it could help endear him more to fans and help his cause in terms of being recognized as the GOAT of the NBA.
