The ESPN documentary series “The Last Dance” shows a younger generation of NBA fans that Michael Jordan is more than just a guy selling retro sneakers. For those who watched Jordan excel during the Bulls’ two three-peats, it reinforced their belief that he was the greatest player on the court.
Of course, today’s stars complicate the “greatest of all time” conversation. There’s an argument to be made for prioritizing LeBron James over Jordan, and that argument became even stronger after James became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career points.
If you’re ready to discuss Jordan vs. Jordan, Bill Bender of The Sporting News has a helpful guide with the most important talking points. LeBron, but we’re just here to provide the facts you need to justify your choice. Don’t be that person who yells “six rings” without a backup plan.
Here’s a closer look at the GOAT debate…
(All statistics as of March 6, 2024)
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season stats
In terms of points per game, Jordan is better in scoring, but James has a higher rebound and assist rate. While both players were known for their tenacious defense on the wing, Jordan led the league in steals three times during his career. James has yet to win a steal title.
From a lifespan perspective, James has a clear advantage. The gap in totals will widen as long as James stays healthy, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down at age 39.
| Jordan | every game | lebron |
| 30.1 | integral | 27.1 |
| 6.2 | rebound | 7.5 |
| 5.3 | Assist | 7.4 |
| twenty three | steal | 1.5 |
| 0.8 | piece | 0.7 |
| 2.7 | turnover | 3.5 |
| 38.3 | minute | 38.0 |
| 49.7 | Shots scored % | 50.5 |
| 32.7 | three points% | 34.7 |
| 83.5 | penalty% | 73.5 |
| Jordan | total | lebron |
| 1,072 | game | 1,476 |
| 32,292 | integral | 40,036 |
| 6,672 | rebound | 11,057 |
| 5,633 | Assist | 10,855 |
| 2,514 | steal | 2,256 |
| Chapter 893 | piece | 1,106 |
| 2,924 | turnover | 5,143 |
| 41,011 | minute | 56,019 |
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Advanced regular season stats
It all depends on which category you choose in terms of advanced statistics. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus favor Jordan.
Pick a side, nerds! (This is a word that expresses love.)
| Jordan | advanced | lebron |
| 27.9 | Player efficiency rating | 27.1 |
| 116.1 | Value higher than replacement | 150.5 |
| 9.2 | Box plus/minus | 8.7 |
| 214.0 | win shares | 261.0 |
| 56.9 | true hit rate % | 58.9 |
| 33.3 | usage% | 31.6 |
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Playoff stats
Postseason statistics reflect how Jordan and James performed during the regular season. While James’ usage and efficiency from beyond the arc has increased throughout his career, it’s worth noting that his three-point shooting percentage is about the same as Jordan’s.
Oh, and there’s also the lazy claim that James holds back in big games — his playoff lines are often more impressive than his regular-season performances. That’s not a smart way to go against him.
| Jordan | every game | lebron |
| 33.4 | integral | 28.5 |
| 6.4 | rebound | 9.0 |
| 5.7 | Assist | 7.2 |
| 2.1 | steal | 1.7 |
| 0.9 | piece | 1.0 |
| 3.1 | turnover | 3.6 |
| 41.8 | minute | 41.3 |
| 48.7 | Shots scored % | 49.5 |
| 33.2 | three points% | 33.1 |
| 82.8 | penalty% | 74.1 |
| Jordan | total | lebron |
| 179 | game | Chapter 282 |
| 5,987 | integral | 8,023 |
| 1,152 people | rebound | 2,549 |
| 1,022 people | Assist | 2,023 |
| Chapter 376 | steal | Chapter 471 |
| 158 | piece | 270 |
| Chapter 546 | turnover | 1,015 |
| 7,474 | minute | 11,654 |
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Advanced playoff stats
Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he also has the highest usage rate. But James ranks first in VORP and win shares.
So, yeah, these guys are pretty good.
| Jordan | advanced | lebron |
| 28.6 | Player efficiency rating | 27.9 |
| 24.7 | Value higher than replacement | 35.4 |
| 11.1 | Box plus/minus | 10.0 |
| 39.8 | win shares | 57.9 |
| 56.8 | true hit rate % | 58.3 |
| 35.6 | usage% | 31.8 |
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Honors and Awards
This is the most important. Jordan fans have championships in their pockets. Jordan posted a perfect 6-0 record in the NBA Finals and didn’t need a Game 7 to win the series.
James was 4-6 in his 10 NBA Finals appearances, but he also controlled the Eastern Conference with the Cavaliers and Heat for almost a full decade.
| Jordan | honor | lebron |
| 6 | championship | 4 |
| 5 | MVP | 4 |
| 6 | Finals MVP | 4 |
| eleven | NBA All-NBA Team | 19 |
| 9 | Full defense | 6 |
| 14 | All-Star | twenty |
| 10 | scoring title | 1 |