Goat Debate of Basketball - By Karina Silva

    The debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan goes back to when LeBron joined the league in 2003. The debate transpired because of how hyped LeBron was as a high school prospect who didn't go to college and declared his draft in 03. He was considered the 2nd Jordan, having high expectations of a kid from Akron, Ohio. These two greats have marked their goat mark for basketball and have sparked intense discussions with fans about goat conservation, so who is really the goat? 

Photo: GQ Magazine

    Micheal Jordan is most famous for his role in the '90s with the Chicago Bulls, how he changed the game, and being the best player in the '90s. People argue for his 6 championship rings, which is higher than LeBron’s 4 rings. Jordan was famous for his mid-range and NBA finals performances during the final seconds. He had 2 three-peats. Jordan averaged 30 points per game, and he is more notable for points, while LeBron leads in rebounds and has a higher assist rate than Jordan. They are equal in steals, but Jordan leads for blocks. But LeBron has a higher 3-point and field-goal percentage. Jordan never allowed a 7 game series during his run, and he played 15 seasons in the game while stopping midseason due to his change to baseball and gambling problem. He led the NBA in scoring 10 times vs LeBron’s only scoring title, having only one. 

Photo: Marca.com

    They both had a higher desire to win but never played once against each other. He is also famous for his basketball shoes, “Air Jordans '. He played college ball for North Carolina and won one title with them in 84. LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio, and was number one in his draft class. LeBron’s ability to still play at a high level at 39 years old and still going in the NBA is extraordinary, and he broke many records. His most recent one is the all-time scoring record and all-time minutes played. He can play and guard all positions, and his court vision helps him excel at creating plays for his teammates. He relies on his patented and powerful drive to the basket. People love him for his breakaway tomahawk dunk, fadeaways, and hook shots. His longevity is incredible, considering nobody in the NBA has averaged what LeBron has in his 21st season. He has also been playing at an MVP level since his late 20s and early 30s. He is the only player in the NBA to lead his team to a championship on every team he has been on. He has been a pivotal player when put on a team that struggles, and he helps make them championship contenders. He is higher than Jordan in triple-doubles, and he recently won the first in-season tournament championship that the NBA began to hold.  Some people can argue that LeBron has an easier era of basketball to go against rather than the 90s. 

Photo: Foxnews.com

    It also should be noted that Jordan outscored James in 11 of their first 15 seasons.  James is notably more goat-worthy to people due to the 2016 championship, where Cleveland went on a 52-year drought, and Cleveland was down 3-1 in the NBA finals with the intense NBA finals with LeBron and Curry. The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 in the playoffs. It was also special to James because it was a title to his home state of Ohio. James has continued to excel in the game and doesn't seem to stop after just turning 39; he is still racking up incredible numbers for his age. James is closer to recording 40k points and setting another record as the only NBA player to record that many.  LeBron and Jordan created and showed people two different ways of goat basketball. It's hard to decide who is better since there were different eras such as Jordan played when the NBA was with physicality and a more rugged style of play, while LeBron is thriving in an era with athletism and versatility and where three-point shooting is popular instead of driving to the basket, Jordan also had a killer instinct. It had competitiveness while LeBron was competitive, too, but his adaptability and playmaking have redefined the role of an NBA star. 

Photo: Sports Illustrated (SI.com)

    Some people I’ve talked to ranged from people who watched Jordan to those who watched LeBron. My dad watched both Jordan and LeBron and stated that Jordan was better because of the number of finals he could attend and the wins he achieved during that era. Another Richland source said LeBron is the best to play the game because of his athleticism at his age, being able to still poster players and create records that no NBA player has achieved, and still playing now without leaving the NBA to focus on another sport or gambling.   I think it's important to recognize their greatness and what they left on the basketball floor, and it's not about who's the best but appreciating these two greats who helped reshape basketball in their own way. They made a legacy for themselves, as seen in basketball history.