Ever since LeBron James made his NBA debut, the basketball world has been comparing him to Michael Jordan. For two decades, fans and basketball analysts have debated who is the greatest player of all time between James and Jordan. There’s no denying that Jordan was an iconic figure in the league, which is why many were reluctant to pass the torch to Lyndon Johnson. However, LeBron has proven his greatness time and time again, even to this day.
LeBron James is entering his 21st season in the league and will turn 39 in December. However, James continues to challenge Father Time and still plays like he was in his prime. The question now is, can Michael Jordan do the same thing later in his career?
Here’s a complete breakdown of the key differences between James and Jordan at age 38.
LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: Who is playing better at age 38?
Michael Jordan, 38, is playing his first season with the Washington Wizards. While he’s not the same player he once was with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan is still a lethal scorer who can flip a switch when needed. In his first season, Jordan averaged 22.9 points per game.
Averaging 22.9 points per game is still impressive, especially considering Jordan had clearly declined as a player at that point. However, LeBron James, who is averaging 28.9 points per game at the same age, has proven to be a different beast. The last time LeBron averaged at least 28 points per game was back in the 2008-09 season, when he won the MVP for the first time in his career. That fact alone speaks volumes about how great the 38-year-old LBJ is.
Most importantly, James’ shooting accuracy remains stable. Last season I shot 32.1% from three and 50.0% overall. Jordan, on the other hand, has clearly lost a lot of his touch at the age of 38. He shot just 18.9% from three-point range and 41.6% overall. However, Jordan’s shooting percentage was still impressive.
That being said, while many fans will always consider Michael Jordan their number one, it’s clear that LeBron James is the best player at 38 years old.