Imagine excelling in an intentionally-no defense era, and calling yourself the GOAT. LOL- GTFOH!!
Anyone going to dispute any of the FACTS here? This was too easy.
”Not sure how old everyone is on this thread, but the elimination of the ‘hand check’ in the NBA in 2004-05 made this argument even possible. It was a terrible decision by the NBA; turned the game into a defense-less spectacle of constant three-pointers and unchallenged dunks.
Jordan is BY FAR a better one-on-one and post-up player than LeBron. Go watch the highlight compilations. Jordan’s highlights are him doing incredibly acrobatic moves WHILE BEING HAND CHECKED and fouled. His post-up game was incredible. There was virtually nothing a defender could do to stop him from getting a shot off.
LeBron benefitted immensely from the defense not being allowed to hand check. His post up game is weak as hell WITHOUT HAND CHECKS. Go watch the highlights- his moves are slow and clunky; he would’ve been stopped with hand checks most of the time.
As other NBA legends and commentators have said, Jordan would average 40-50 points per game in today’s NBA. Not being allowed to touch him with your hands?? Are you kidding me?? He shot 50% lifetime with hand checks! He created his own shots, in traffic / in the post. Plus he was incredible in the clutch and shot 84% from the line, so at the end of games against him, you’re screwed. Oh, and he was 1st team All-Defense for a decade (winning defensive player of the year in in 1988). MJ also played every game he could. Look at all his 82 games played seasons (including his very last season after coming out of retirement).
On the flip side, LeBron would have trouble averaging 25 in the 80s/90s NBA. His post game blows and he’s not a great ball handler. Hand checks would cause him all sorts of trouble. Imagine how much more of a biitch he’d be getting grabbed every time he drives to the hole? How does he only shoot 50% from the floor and average more turnovers than MJ in this defense-free era? And yes- his ABSURD flopping certainly tarnished his legacy. Truly embarrassing. And lastly- what’s with missing so many games in the Lakers era? The fans want to see the stars, right?
It’s really not a difficult argument. Most NBA’rs (past and present) agree: if you need to win a game, you go with MJ all day long. Better scorer, better ball handler, better defense, and better in the clutch. NEVER losing on the biggest stage vs losing 60% of the time on the biggest stage. What are we even talking about here?
And honestly, the longer LeBron has played, the more THAT has become his legacy: the guy that was very good that played for a long time. (…but not the GOAT.)”