rookie789 u took the words out of my post. Michael Jordan is in his own league. Lebron isnt having the effect Michael Had on the league when he first came in. Speak to anyone or watch any documentrys on Michael and every defender they ask will tell them you he could not be stopped going to the hoop. Lebron doesnt have that effect on people. He may have done more at 21 then Michael Jordan did, but until he retires, there shouldnt be any comparing. When Michael was 21 he was still in UNC winning national championships so at the moment you would have to say, at 21 lebron has done more. If lebron can win 6 rings, then yeah let the debates begin lol
[quote name='virve119'] Cleveland has Damon Jones and Donyell coming off the bench! Those guys are starters on any other team. Don't try and tell me Lebron has a worse supporting cast than Wade, because its a lie.
Can Lebron take over games consistently? NO...until he can...he's no Jordan. Mike could take over a game by himself....now thats Mr. Air. Like others said....Lbron needs championships!! LOTS OF THEM!!!
I have to wonder how many of you guys actually watched Jordan games in his early years other than highlight reels.. I mean there is such a thing as going too far with praising a guy.. It's also frustrating to read childish responses bringing up rings. We're obviously not comparing end-of-career accomplishments here, and even then, it's not like Jordan won his rings so early on. I mean I'm fairly young but I saw enough "young MJ" that I don't see anything wrong with putting them in the same breath (Lebrons age being considered).. Don't get me wrong, Jordan is in my mind the best to ever play the game, but come on now people.. Just look at the kid. 1. He basically has Ben Wallace's height and weight. Or Ron Artest's, if you want to use that instead. 2. He has incredible explosiveness especially for his size. 3. He has 3 pt range. 4. He penetrates and gets to the line. 5. He can find the open man. His averages of 25-7-7 or so is not so far off from Jordan's 30-6-6 over his career.. Considering how the game has changed from then and now, it's hard to deny the similarity in their production. No their games are not the same, but their respective potency at such a young age is obvious. The scariest part of all this of course, is the fact that Lebron is so young, and has yet to peak. Their games are by no means similar, though I think saying the "next MJ" merely means that he is the one who will be the face of the league for this generation of the NBA. Everyone "back then" grew up wanting to be like Mike.. and all that's being said now is that kids watching the game today will likely turn to Lebron.
Wade will never win the awards Jordon did and will never carry a team the way Jordon did. Superman and flash. Flash is a sidekick while jordon was never a second guy. Lebron is their first option and if it was Lebron in miami and not wade then Shaq would be their second option. Lebron has every possibility to win defensive player of the year, win a slam dunk contest, win rings, win MVP, and he is doing at a younger age then jordon, BUT Jordon was clutch and played with such a passion I will never see again. Mentally and Emotionally no one will match Jordon.
First of all, it doesn't make sense to say that nobody will ever be better then Michael Jordan. There is always going to be someone that's better and while Jordan is the greatest ever now, it is just a matter of time until another person's talent is recognized as better. Many people think LeBron is that person and he definently has the potential to surpass Jordan. At the start of Jordan's career, he wasn't a great shooter and relied on his ability to slash to the basket, much like LeBron did before this season. After a few years, Jordan developed a consistent jumpshot just like LeBron has this season. If LeBron can continue to improve the different elements of his game, I believe that over time he can become better then Jordan was in his prime.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Wade will never win the awards Jordon did and will never carry a team the way Jordon did. Superman and flash. Flash is a sidekick while jordon was never a second guy. Lebron is their first option and if it was Lebron in miami and not wade then Shaq would be their second option. Lebron has every possibility to win defensive player of the year, win a slam dunk contest, win rings, win MVP, and he is doing at a younger age then jordon, BUT Jordon was clutch and played with such a passion I will never see again. Mentally and Emotionally no one will match Jordon.</div> First off, it's Jordan not jordon. Secondly, ask Shaq who the go-to guy is on that team, it's Wade. There's no doubt that Shaq is more dominant than Wade, but he's also more dominant than Lebron. I'll agree that Lebron has a chance to win a Dunk Contest, but the competition would need to be weak, or the judges would have to be very sympathetic to that same dunk that he does every time. Let's face it, Lebron can get up, but he's not a very creative or stylish dunker like the greats (VC, JRich, MJ etc.). Defensive player of the year? Last time I checked that award went to the Best defenders not the worst. Sure go on about how young he is and how he'll learn to be a better defender because of his athleticism. The fact is, defence can't be taught, it's a matter of wanting it. Defensive skills are usually something you just have, not something you learn. Yes Lebron has a chance to win chips and MVPs, but don't bring age into this. Just because he's young doesn't mean he'll get better. Some players peak before others-remember Jim Jackson? Plus, we'll see how he responds to injuries as he gets older. James has the talent, height and skills, but he'll never have Jordan's heart, passion clutchness, so with that I agree with you.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll agree that Lebron has a chance to win a Dunk Contest, but the competition would need to be weak, or the judges would have to be very sympathetic to that same dunk that he does every time. Let's face it, Lebron can get up, but he's not a very creative or stylish dunker like the greats (VC, JRich, MJ etc.).</div> I'm sure LeBron would do the statue of liberty on every attempt at the slam dunk contest. Did VC put his elbow in the rim during games? Does JRich go for a reverse beteen the legs in a game? Did MJ dunk from the line in games? I don't think so. If LeBron brought his best at the contest with the kind of air he gets he could definetly win. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Defensive skills are usually something you just have, not something you learn.</div> That doesn't mean he can't improve, just because he's not an amazing defensive player right now. You're right that he's not guaranteed to get better just because of his age, but there is <u>no way</u> that you can say LeBron is peaking. And comparing LeBron to Jim Jackson is just plain stupid. You may not like LeBron, but that doesn't mean you have to disrespect him. While LeBron may not be able to match Jordan's passion, that certainly doesn't mean that he's lacking it. Jordan's mentality was unheard of, and may never be equalled, but that doesn't mean that a player can't be as great as him. LeBron has the physical ability and the skills to someday become the "next MJ" (even though I hate that term), even if he doesn't have his intensity. I know that some people like Wade better, and that will never change, but here we go anyways. I think that the point of this topic was to talk about who will be the better, more impacting player, not a discussion on who's game is more like MJ's. If you look at it like that, then it's pretty hard to argue against LeBron. He's got better stats, more T.V. coverage, more exposure with Nike as opposed to Converse and more casual fans. He is in much better position to advance the League and change basketball. That's what made MJ the greatest, and what will give LeBron the chance to eclipse him.
Technically if James was going to be the next Jordan he would have to go through a whole cloning process to be Jordan. If you look at it that way, he will never be Jordan nor will anybody ever be. If he becomes better than Jordan he is not Jordan, if he’s worse that he is not Jordan. Unless if he goes to the Bulls win 6 rings, 10 scoring titles, and goes bald and somehow becomes 6’6 and wears North Carolina shorts under his Bulls uniform and has Pippen as his 2nd option he will never be Jordan. I really hate that term. Why can’t it be, will James be a GOAT? First and foremost, his style is nothing compared to Jordan in terms of similarity, they play different positions and everything. Where is the comparison? James hasn't even played a Playoff game yet, and Playoff games are what seperates stars from superstars and superstars from GOAT's.
LeBron is the closest in the NBA, but he has to at least take his team to the playoffs, to even discuss this
If you've watched MJ play, you know there will never be another like him. If you read his book, you know that it's 100% out of the question that he's 1 of a kind. He brings his A game every day, and doesnt milk injuries like shaq did with his ankle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Johnnybrasco:</div><div class="quote_post">How about this: 80's Magic/Bird, 90's Jordan, 2000's Lebron and or Wade.</div> sounds about right, but give shaq daddy some credit
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting superman32:</div><div class="quote_post">sounds about right, but give shaq daddy some credit</div> Shaq was the top player spanning 1998 to 2003, in my opinion. He was by far the best during LA's championship run.
wow- 5mvps and 6 championships will be very tough to achieve. Also MJ was a great defender. Lets reevaluate LJ after 5 more yrs and see where he is at. Kobe is the closest Ive seen to MJ as far as talent goes- very similar style. I dont think he has the leadership mentality though- which seperated jordan from everyone: he could not be beaten mentally
Kobe can take over a game like Jordan, but its stupid to even ask that question because the answer will always be no.. there will never be another Jordan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">I just found this picture and I thought it was pretty cool. </div> nice find, wade showing his respect for jordan wearing an mj jersey, and no disresprct to either lebron or kobe, these 2 are GREAT players/leaders, but man MJ basically changed the game of basketball, his hard workingness and the way he hangs in the air, he just added so much more excitement to the game.... how do you think kobe/t-mac/arenas/wade do those in the air switch side reverse lay ups? cuz mj was one of the first that did it
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting rookie789:</div><div class="quote_post">nice find, wade showing his respect for jordan wearing an mj jersey, and no disresprct to either lebron or kobe, these 2 are GREAT players/leaders, but man MJ basically changed the game of basketball, his hard workingness and the way he hangs in the air, he just added so much more excitement to the game.... how do you think kobe/t-mac/arenas/wade do those in the air switch side reverse lay ups? cuz mj was one of the first that did it</div> As Jordan himself admits, his game was a carry-over of the things guys like Dr. J, Connie Hawkins, and Elgin Baylor were doing before him. I think the same can be said about the current crop of acrobats (Carter, Bryant, McGrady, LeBron, Wade, etc.). No one player is responsible for the way these high-flyers play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mmonte4:</div><div class="quote_post"> Kobe is the closest Ive seen to MJ as far as talent goes- very similar style. I dont think he has the leadership mentality though- which seperated jordan from everyone: he could not be beaten mentally</div> Come on. He did have one of the biggest all-time brain farts in NBA history when he let Nick Anderson sneak from behind and strip him of the ball in the 95 playoffs. The guy wasn't infallible.
