The Michael Jordan - LeBron James Comparison

Recently, a lot has been made of comparing LeBron James and Michael Jordan as players. From the eyeball test, where one can see that LeBron is almost capable of scoring at will, this seems like a solid comparison. However, one must ask if they are truly that similar. With LeBron, he is the entire package - capable of scoring, rebounding, and having a great eye for the passing lane. Jordan, meanwhile, is remembered mainly as a high-flying scorer, capable of dominating a game with his sheer offensive talent alone.

Delving into the statistics, we see that Jordan for his career had per game averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. These show that while the mental image of Jordan involves gravity defying dunks, or pushing off of Byron Russell to hit that series clinching shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, is not entirely accurate. In the modern era of the NBA, he is the all time leading scorer in points per game, but he was more than that. He was able to come up with the occasional rebound, and find the open man when double teamed. Also, his defense was rather underrated as well, as Jordan finished with 2.3 steals per game, good enough for third all-time.

Now, looking at LeBron, the numbers are fairly similar. His per game averages are 27.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Looking at steals, LeBron has 1.7 per game. While Jordan was more of a scorer than LeBron, LeBron is a greater facilitator than Jordan was, and has a bit more well-rounded game. Keep in mind that Jordan had the luxury of having another top 50 player of all-time with him for most of his career in Scottie Pippen, while LeBron may as well have had four guys from a YMCA adult basketball league on the floor with him until this past season.

So, the comparison to Jordan is not entirely accurate. As such, who would best fit as a comparable player to LeBron? Given that LeBron plays a bit of the point-forward role, perhaps the best person to look at is someone who filled a very similar role himself, although he was considered a point guard for most of his career. Magic Johnson essentially invented the point-forward position, as a 6'9" point guard who had an uncanny ability to find passing lanes, could rebound, and had the ability to score. Like LeBron, there was no one close to being what he was at the time, and was a bit of a physical freak for his time. Magic, over his career, averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. There is a gap between Magic and LeBron in terms of points per game and assists per game, but Magic was asked to be more of a facilitator than a scorer on a team that also included James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Looking strictly at the total package of LeBron, and of Jordan and Magic, it would appear that Magic Johnson is the best comparison for LeBron James. LeBron gets a lot of recognition for his ability to score, but his well-rounded game should not be forgotten when evaluating who he is on the floor.

Man up LeBron James

For the third time in as many meetings, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat yesterday. Despite a game where Paul Pierce scored only one point and missed all of his field goal attempts, the Celtics managed to find a way to win. This follows a pattern that has come into play since the trio of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett were put together three years ago, where, despite the situation, they fight and claw to the last moment.

Meanwhile, Miami does not have the same killer, or championship, mentality that the Celtics have. With an opportunity to tie the game, LeBron missed his first free throw. As soon as the pressure was off, he promptly sank the second shot. Granted, it is just one free throw attempt, but this is a microcosm of what LeBron has become. At this point, he looks for excuses as to why the losses happen, instead of taking charge and trying to will his teams to victory.

From the moment LeBron and Chris Bosh signed in Miami, they were anointed as the NBA Champions, even though a game had yet to be played. They staged a 'meeting' with the players, where they came out on a smoke filled stage and preened for the adoring crowds. They expected that all they would have to do would be to show up, and they would win not just one championship, but the multiples that LeBron promised. Well, it's not so easy when other teams stand up.

Thus far, LeBron has claimed that Miami "doesn't have the chemistry that the Celtics have."  When the Big Three in Boston first came together, they won 29 of their first 32 games. They deferred to each other. They worked hard at all aspects of the game. They would not back down to anyone. LeBron and the Heat? It's just excuse after excuse as they try to disguise how mentally soft they really are.

After the game, Dwayne Wade attempted to compare the Heat's struggles against the Celtics to how Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had issues with the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980's. There are, however, several major differences. First, Jordan had nowhere near the supporting cast that LeBron has in Miami. Scottie Pippen was a good player, but he was not in the class of a Dwayne Wade. Those Bulls teams never had a player the caliber of Chris Bosh. They had solid players supporting an all time great, not three perennial All-Stars.

Second, Jordan refused to let up. He would win, or he would go to the last second trying to get that victory. Nothing mattered more to him than to win at everything he tried. With LeBron, it's about image. It's about his brand. It's about having fun. Then maybe basketball factors in after those three things.

Third, Jordan loved the pressure. He created some of the most memorable moments in NBA history during the playoffs. LeBron, meanwhile, shrinks from the pressure. He passes up shots. He commits turnovers he normally wouldn't make. The shots he does take, he misses more than he hits. LeBron simply does not have the mental fortitude required to be the leader of a championship team.

As such, it is time for LeBron James to man up. He needs to realize that nothing is being handed to him in Miami, and that he needs to work at getting championships. Otherwise, his legacy is going to be about unfulfilled potential and all the excuses made for him.