https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2714459.amp.html Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James passed Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA Finals' all-time scoring list during Friday's Game 4 against the Golden State Warriors. King James made his latest move up the rankings with his first basket of the game, a layup in which he also drew a foul. He recently passed Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell and Sam Jones on the star-studded list. Only Jerry West (1,679 points) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,317) stand between the three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and the top spot. James hasn't shied away from comparisons to Jordan, who's viewed by many as the greatest basketball player in history. He's built an incredible resume since the Cavs selected him with the first overall pick in 2003. One that's good enough to put him in the GOAT conversation. Last August, a couple months after finally bringing a championship to Cleveland following his two-title, four-year stint with the Miami Heat, the 32-year-old Akron, Ohio, native told Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated about what continued to drive his burning desire to succeed. "My motivation is this ghost I'm chasing," James said. "The ghost played in Chicago." Jordan finished his illustrious career with 14 All-Star Game selections, 10 first-team All-NBA nods, 10 scoring titles, nine All-Defensive First Team choices, six NBA championships, six NBA Finals MVPs and five MVP Awards for the regular season, among numerous other accolades. James is catching up. He's earned 13 trips to the All-Star Game, 11 first-team All-NBA selections and been named to the All-Defensive First Team five times. He's also been named regular-season MVP on four occasions and helped Team USA win two Olympic gold medals, tying Jordan. Looking ahead, it's unclear how the forward's list of individual honors will match up with that ghost from Chicago when it's all said and done. Passing him on the NBA Finals' all-time scoring list brings him another step closer to his ultimate goal, though. James' constant presence in the league's postseason finale—this year's battle with the Warriors was his seventh straight Finals appearance—has allowed him to put up mind-boggling playoff numbers. With no end to that dominance in sight, he could eventually pass Abdul-Jabbar and West, too.
Not to take anything away from the players playing today but LeBron is also playing in a weaker era of the NBA.
Lebron would also be stronger and more athletic than most in jordans era. Lebron would have been strong enough to send laimbeer into the stands.
I would have paid good money to see that. Actually I would have just paid Deadpool 100 bucks to run over Laimbeer with a Zamboni machine if possible.
If there had been a 3pt shot when Jerry West played he'd be way up in scoring....the guys who played before the 3pt shot get screwed in scoring charts.
I'd like to see the game slow down a bit and get more physical. The game today is a poor brand of basketball. Basketball is supposed to be won by defense not by offense.
I'v NEVER bought this argument. Offenses and defenses are so much more sophisticated and the players more skilled then they were in MJ's era.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats.html The game isn't faster, nor are there many more shot attempts in todays NBA then in MJ's era. The 3p shot is just used more then any other time in league history so the scores are inflated a little bit.
I didn't realize Lebron had played in that many finals games. I'd have never guessed he was in more than Jordan.
