The Debate - Michael Jordan Vs. LeBron James

The debate that everyone hates, but the debate that is becoming a reality. As fans and writers of the sporting world, we all have our opinions and that's what makes these debates and being a sports fan so interesting. The passion we have for our teams, players, and generations is a truly spectacular thing to see. The reason this article is something I want to hit on is because of some of the false and biased reasoning that fans tend to have. The facts are cemented in the history books so we can pull them out and look at the big picture of reality. The truth is I know who my favorite player is and who I think is the greatest basketball player of all time. We all have different criteria for this is why this person and that person is the greatest. It should be a combination of factors because taking statistics, shots, championships, years played, and everything else can't determine the greatest. Very few consider Bill Russell the greatest who had 11 championships or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who is the all-time leading scoring. I know those guys are in the conversation occasionally but it's not very often you hear those names. What about a guy like Oscar Robertson who averaged a triple-double for an entire season? The fact is that we have to account difference aspects and eras of the game to truly determine the greatest player to play. In the end, no facts or statistics will change the mind of some because we all have an opinion as a sports fan. So below I want to demonstrate some of the opinonsI have read that make sense but either not completely accurate or have no legs to stand on.


Michael Jordan Never Lost a Finals - This is a completely true statement. The reason I have this on the list though is because at age 32 Michael Jordan had played in 3 finals and won both. LeBron James at the age of 32 has been to 7 and won 3. The argument will make more sense if LeBron doesn't win 3 more titles, but how can he be penalized if ends up with 6 and went there 10 or 11 times? Wouldn't that mean Jordan wasn't good enough to make it to as many? Even if he doesn't win anymore and keeps getting to the finals means he was at least good enough to get there more than Jordan.

Michael Jordan Didn't Need Superteam to Win - This is only true to a certain point because LeBron had to chase a title because his team wouldn't get him help.The first time around LeBron had no other Hall of Fame players unless you count an old Shaq who wasn't nearly the same player. Jordan only won the championships with Pippen there. The second 3peat consisted of 3 Hall of Famers. How many teams in history have only had 1 hall of fame player and win the title? I believe if you count the guys who are eligible for the Hall of Fame that the number is 3 teams and all of them before 1980.

LeBron James Flops and Jordan Didn't -

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

LeBron Came Out of High School So His Stats Will Be Better - This one is a fact, but why don't we take into account that Jordan wasn't good enough to come out of High School? He was ready to be in the NBA at that time. LeBron had the most hype of anyone in High School and he has actually surpassed expectations. LeBron has been in the league 1 year less than Jordan at the time of this writing and he keeps moving up the list of the greats.LeBron is the only player to be top 20 in assists, points, and steals. He put those numbers up in 1 year less then Jordan put his numbers. By the time he is done, LeBron will lead Jordan in most statistical categories. It doesn't hurt LeBron came out of High School but let's not penalize him for his longevity and his ability out of High School when Jordan wasn't at that level and needed college.


This isn't all of them and there will be plenty more that will be added to this article, but I didn't state anything here that wasn't a factual argument. The world of social media is what makes the hate for LeBron so different than the hate for many players before this generation. LeBron has done plenty of wrong things and made wrong decisions but everyone has. LeBron James haters hate "The Decision", the same decision that helped raise 6 million for charity. The LeBron haters hate him because he is whiny, but isn't it the era we live in now? The fact that everyone wants a foul call or argue a foul call on every single play. The argument will continue as long as LeBron is playing and if he passes Jordan as the greatest of all time only time will tell, but as the discussion continues let's realize reality and show respect to two legends of the game. The story will be written whatever way we want it to be because the fans help make the legends and cement their legendary status. Air Jordan or King James it's your pick?

Who is the G.O.A.T - NBA Edition Part 3

Bill Russell

Next up in the series is Bill Russell. The man with all the championship rings.

Current Ranks

Regular Season 

Games Played - 157th with 963 games
Minutes Played - 27th with 40726 minutes
Blocks - not a stat during playing days but was dominate at it
Field Goals - 146th with 5687 field goals
Total Rebounds - 2nd with 21620 rebounds
Assists - 104th with 4100 assists
Points - 147th with 14522 points

Playoffs

Games Played - 29th with 165 games
Minutes Played - 10th with 7497 minutes
Blocks - not a stat during playing days but was dominate at it
Field Goals - 30th with 1003 field goals
Total Rebounds - 1st with 4104 rebounds
Assists - 25th with 770 assists
Points - 32nd with 2673 points




Accolades

11x NBA Champion
5x NBA MVP
12x NBA All-Star
1x NBA All-Star Game MVP
3x All-NBA First Team
8x All-NBA Second Team
1x All-Defensive First Team
1x Olympic Medalist


Bill Russell is one of the greatest ambassadors of the game of basketball. One of the best if not the best Centers to play the game. The era of basketball during his years was a totally different game. At a time, when blocks were not a stat, Russell was a transcendent defender of his time. At the University of San Francisco, he was a 2 time All-American, 2 time Helms Player of the Year, and 2-time First-Team All-American. Bill Russell and Red Auerbach would go on to be the best coach and player duo to ever play the game. During that time, he went up against the greatest scorer of that era in Wilt Chamberlain. Bill played the best he could and succeeded many times against the 100 point man. The stupendous record for him was being an 11 time NBA Champion which no other player in NBA history has accomplished. The statistics may not be as high as other players but he has almost twice as many championships as the next person in the top 10 of the greatest NBA players. Mr. Russell will forever be a legend because it's one record that may never be touched.

Who is the G.O.A.T - NBA Edition Part 2

Michael Jordan

Next up in the series is Michael Jordan. Many people consider him the G.O.A.T right now. The reason for the series is to determine that when compared side by side if he actually is the G.O.A.T.

Current Ranks

Regular Season 

Games Played - 82nd with 1072 games
Minutes Played - 26th with 41011 minutes
3-Pt Field Goals - 230th with 581 3-Pt field goals
Field Goals - 4th with 12192 field goals
Total Rebounds - 122nd with 6672 rebounds
Assists - 43rd with 5633 assists
Steals - 3rd with 2514 steals
Points - 4th with 32292 points

Playoffs

Games Played - 18th with 179 games
Minutes Played - 12th with 7474 minutes
3-Pt Field Goals - 30th with 148 3-Pt field goals
Field Goals - 2nd with 2188 field goals
Total Rebounds - 35th with 1152 rebounds
Assists - 10th with 1022 assists
Steals - 2nd with 376 steals
Points - 1st with 5987 points

Accolades

6x NBA Finals appearances 
6x NBA Champion
6x NBA Finals MVP
5x NBA MVP
14x NBA All-Star
3x NBA All-Star Game MVP
10x All-NBA First Team
9x All-Defensive First Team
1x NBA Defensive Player of the Year
10x NBA Scoring Champion
NBA Rookie of the Year
3x AP Athlete of the Year
2x Olympic Medalist



Based on just the rankings, a major area of his greatness came in the scoring and defensive categories. The Accolades speak for themselves when talking about a 6 time NBA champion and a 5 time NBA MVP. The biggest gap in the conversation for the G.O.A.T is the defensive awards. With 9 All-Defensive First Team and NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the defensive end was one of his top priorities. The early years saw Jordan and the Bulls struggled to have a winning record and struggles in the playoffs. The first two years the Bulls had a losing record, and he had an injury in his second season to cause him to miss games. Even when he wasn't winning Jordan was an elite scoring leading the league a total of 10 times in scoring. Michaels Jordan's first championship didn't come until the 1990-91 season in which they won 61 games. Jordan averaged 31.5 ppg that year. In his first 3 championships, the Bulls defeated the likes of Lakers, Trail Blazers, and Suns. The Lakers were the best team the Bulls faced out of the 3. In the 1992-93 season, Jordan averaged 41 ppg and took home the Finals MVP award for the 3rd straight year. The main thing that separates Jordan is the ability to score. The constant is the scoring, but Jordan like everyone else on the list couldn't do it alone and had to have help. Jordan decided to retire which takes away from some of the impressive numbers and leaves a what if feeling during that period. The Bulls would again go on another 3-peat when he came back to basketball. With 6 championships, Jordan will always be in the conversation of greatest player of all time. The one thing that made Jordan a hero and in many people's eyes a basketball god is the period in which he played. The league needed star power and face of the league, and Jordan became the face of the league. The reality is no one had seen anyone that talented of a scorer who had the total package of marketing and skill. The game and the players have involved since the playing days of some of the past greats. He was a great scorer, defender, athlete, and showman. The big question is, Is Jordan the real G.O.A.T?

Who is the G.O.A.T - NBA Edition Part 1

 

LeBron James

As sports fans we tend to find ourselves discussing who the greatest of all time is. The truth is in some ways it's a very open ended opinionated question. The reality is we all have our own favorites in different generations that make this a difficult choice to pick. This is the first of my list of  anywhere from 5-10 players that I'm going to break down everything and pitch a case for each individual. At the end, the choice based on overall criteria and rankings will determine for me who is the G.O.A.T. The current active player in the discussion LeBron James will be up first.

Current Ranks

Regular Season 

Games Played -100th with 1033 games
Minutes Played - 32nd with 40204 minutes
3-Pt Field Goals - 27th with 1419 3-Pt field goals
Field Goals - 14th with 10128 field goals
Total Rebounds - 82nd with 7433 rebounds
Assists - 14th with 7210 assists
Steals - 21st with 1723 steals
Points - 8th with 28020 points

Playoffs

Games Played - 9th with 199 games
Minutes Played - 4th with 8383 minutes
3-Pt Field Goals - 5th with 287 3-Pt field goals
Field Goals - 6th with 1965 field goals
Total Rebounds - 9th with 1758 rebounds
Assists - 3rd with 1348 assists
Steals - 4th with 354 steals
Points - 4th with 5572 points

Accolades

7 NBA Finals appearances 
6 straight NBA Finals apperances
3x NBA Finals MVP
4x NBA MVP
13x NBA All-Star
2x NBA All-Star Game MVP
10x All-NBA First Team
2x All-NBA Second Team
5x All-Defensive First Team
NBA Rookie of the Year
2x AP Athlete of the Year
2x Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
3x Olympic Medalist




 
The King's stats stack up with the best in the game at age 32. Currently he is still playing at a high level so the G.O.A.T status will continue to rise. Some other facts that are not stat based aren't seen on these lists. LeBron has been to 6 straight NBA Finals, which in this era just doesn't happen. When LeBron left for Miami, the Cleveland Cavaliers were bad until he got back. When LeBron left for Cleveland, the Miami Heat were bad and missed the playoffs. Those two things help separate him from some of the other players on the list. The facts are he makes his team much better and without him they are just an okay team. For example, when MJ left the Bulls they were still a playoff team. Another factor in the chase for the label as G.O.A.T, the NBA has never seen anyone with the combination of size, agility, strength, passing ability, rebounding, and 3-Pt shooting. At 32 years old, The King hasn't slowed down yet so he is still currently moving his way up the statistical and historical leader boards. As of today, where does King James rank?

The Rise and Fall of a Legend

Sports legends often experience a quick ascent to the top, but their falls from grace can be equally swift. Ronda Rousey exemplified this pattern, reaching the pinnacle of her career by winning four consecutive fights in under a minute. Her dominance was so complete that she was considered the best fighter in the world, regardless of weight class. However, as her star grew, so did the demands on her time and attention from other areas, such as WWE, television, talk shows, and films.

The question of whether her newfound celebrity status affected her fighting career arises, especially after her two consecutive losses. Perhaps she lost the desire to continue fighting at that intense level. Despite earning substantial sums, like the $3 million from a single bout, the allure of the ring may have waned. It's likely that a combination of factors contributed to her current situation, but the harsh truth is that nobody stays at the top forever.

Rousey's recent defeats might suggest she's past her prime, but it's essential to remember the incredible impact she had on the sport. Her influence is undeniable, as the UFC's women's division may not have existed without her. As fans, we sometimes forget that legends are human too, and they can't maintain their peak performance indefinitely.

Rousey's story serves as a stark reminder that even the mightiest fall. After her first loss, she contemplated suicide, revealing the intense pressure she faced. Now, after another defeat, she appears a shadow of her former self. It's time for her to embrace the fame she earned and explore the myriad opportunities that lie ahead. Her legendary status is secure, thanks to her contributions to women's MMA.

As we reflect on Rousey's 48-second defeat, let's not forget the legacy she has built. Legends may not always remain at the top, but their greatness is what keeps them legendary. Her influence on the sport is permanent, and the UFC women's division stands as a testament to her dominance. It's crucial to appreciate the achievements of athletes like Rousey, who have shaped their sports in profound ways.