It seems that "Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James" is a never ending debate. And rightfully so, since the two of them are arguably some of the best NBA players of all time, if not the best. And while Michael Jordan is in a league of its own, it's hard to deny and not to recognize what LeBron James has been able to accomplish so far in his career.
James still has at least three more years of great basketball left, before he starts declining. His legacy is still a work in progress, but even so, he is being compared to Michael Jordan at this point in his career.
Jordan was perfectly built for a shooting guard in the NBA; he was the 6-foot-6 guard with great athletic ability and great mid-range jump shot. Jordan led his Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles and was named the Finals MVP all six times. He was the undisputed king of basketball in the 90's, and many consider him to be the greatest of all time.
Erving weighs in
Many believe that after LeBron's loss in the Finals last season against the Warriors, he is no longer in the conversation as the best player of all time. With the 2017 loss to the Golden State Warriors, James fell to 3-5 record in the Finals. As we all well know, Jordan is 6-0 in the Finals, and it's a strong argument for anybody who thinks he's the greatest ever.
But not everybody believes that LeBron's record in the Finals should mean he's no longer regarded as the best player of all time.
NBA legend Julius Erving thinks that James' five losses shouldn't determine his legacy. Erving appeared as a guest on a sports TV show called "Undisputed" and commented on LeBron's legacy and the comparison between LeBron and Jordan.
Erving said that he thinks the "Michael vs. LeBron" debate shouldn't be settled until James' career is over. "The bar is pretty high, but LeBron is still playing," said Erving.
Hall of Famer impressed by LeBron's legacy so far
When 'Dr.J' was asked about what he thinks about LeBron's 3-5 record in the Finals, and whether or not he still has a chance to catch and pass Jordan, he said: "What you guys are missing is, the game is a team sport.
So 3-5 doesn’t mean anything. I’m more impressed with eight Finals than I am with the record in the Finals.”
Erving compared James' eight Finals appearances to playing in eight Super Bowls. He then went on to say that even though LeBron is still the best player on his team, it's hard to win championships without great teammates. Erving complimented his former teammates and thanked them for helping him win a couple of championships. Doctor J, as he is also known, averaged 24.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game throughout his career.
