The GOAT debate | The Freeman

Let’s get in on the debate on who’s the greatest basketball player ever to lace up a pair Nikes.   Is it someone called His Airness or the one hailed as the King?

Both are exceptional players but the issue between Michael Jordan and LeBron James comes in occasionally, and it simply refuses to die down, with supporters of both sides drawing up their claims.

LeBron, who’ll be 40 at the end of the year, will be entering his 22nd season when the 2024-2025 season opens.  Impressive is an understatement on how he keeps going at a high level considering that at this age, most pro athletes in any pro sports had retired from active play.  He’ll join Vince Carter as the only two players in NBA history with the longest career.  With 40,474 total points and counting, LeBron is tops on the NBA all-time scoring list.

Jordan, after 14 seasons, finally retired for the third time from active play in 2003, at the age of 40.   His career scoring average of 30.1 is tops in the league and sits at fifth on the league’s all-time scorers with 32,292 total points.

Breaking several league records and playing 528 more games and seven seasons more than Jordan, he still trails him in several categories that adds fuel to the GOAT debate.

NBA Championships –

Jordan 6x  –  2 three-peats in 1991-1993 and in 1996-1998, a perfect 6-0 record

LeBron 4x  –  appeared in 10 championships, won 4 (2012-2013 MIA), (2016 CLE), (2020 LAL)

Finals MVPs

Jordan 6x  –  the only player to win the award each time he’s in the Finals

LeBron 4x  –  2 with Miami, one each with Cleveland and LAL

Regular season MVPs

Jordan 5x

LeBron 4x

Defensive player of the year

Jordan  –  1988 DPOY

LeBron -  0

All-defensive team

Jordan  -  9x

LeBron  -  6x

Scoring title

Jordan  -  10x

LeBron  -  1x

Steals title

Jordan  -  3x

LeBron  -  0

These seven categories are the points of separation that continues the GOAT argument.