Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: the endless debate over who is the best

Michael Jordan or LeBron James? Air Jordan or King James? The past or the present? When Michael Jordan decided to retire definitively from the court, LeBron James was just at the beginning of his career. The year was 2003. The two NBA legends made history in their respective generations. There is a debate over who is the best player of all time. This debate gained traction after the current Los Angeles Lakers star became the all-time leading scorer, beating the record of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar himself.

People have been polled for years and asked which of the two legends is better. The latest poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, reveals that people still believe that Michael Jordan is the best. We say they "still believe" because the company asked the same question eight years ago and the answer was the same. However, the difference between the two players shrunk from 2015 to 2023.

Fifty-eight percent of those polled chose the Chicago Bulls legend, 15% chose the current leader of the Lakers, and 27% could not decide between the two. Eight years ago, 77% believed Jordan was the best compared to 14% who preferred LeBron. Now the margin is shrinking between the two, which could be due to King James' recent successes, such as breaking the record for the most points scored in history. This difference may also be influenced by the mere fact that the spectacle LeBron gives us is more recent than the one Jordan gave us back in the 90s.

Jordan and LeBron: similarities and differences

LeBron and Jordan are the kind of players whose primary individual purpose is to make sure their fans have a good time. In addition, they never give up in the face of adversity in every game.

Both started out on two teams where it everyone thought they would spend their entire careers: LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls. This was not the case for Air Jordan or King James.

Jordan returned to the court in 2001 with the Washington Wizards after retiring in 1998 with the Bulls. In addition to being a player in the capital's franchise, he was also president. He currently owns the Charlotte Hornets. LeBron left the Cavs in 2010 and later returned in 2014 after a stint with the Miami Heat. His second stint with the Ohio franchise lasted until 2018, when he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Statistically, they are very similar. In the regular season, Jordan averages better points and steals, while LeBron beats him in assists and rebounds per game. Statistical averages are the same in the playoffs as they are in the regular season. In addition, they were named Rookie of the Year in their first season and were MVP.

In terms of titles, Jordan beats LeBron. Air Jordan won six NBA titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) and two Olympic gold medals (Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992). King James has won four NBA titles (2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020) and two Olympic gold medals (Beijing 2008 and London 2012).

They have not only excelled it in basketball, but they have also excelled on the big screen. Michael Jordan starred in Space Jam (1996), a film in which he co-starred with Warner Bros.' Looney Toons. Aside from that, he released a documentary on Netflix called The Last Dance chronicling his final season with the Chicago Bulls. In 2021, the sequel to Space Jam entitled Space Jam: A New Legacy featured LeBron James in the role of lead actor, who picked up the baton from Jordan and accompanied the famous animated characters on their lunar adventures.