The number one person is no less than (please applaud) Michael Jordan. Yes, surpassing LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and second-ranked player.
Of course, this is an argument that no one wins. They played in different eras and would never face off in a game.
Few dominated the NBA like Jordan, who scored with a killer instinct and was considered one of the best defenders of his era. He also rarely misses a game – unless it’s due to a serious injury. Sometimes, even that didn’t stop him. (Who can forget when he scored 63 points in a 1986 series against the Celtics when the Bulls didn’t even want him to play because of a foot injury?)
“Jordan’s mid-range shots — face-up, lunge, pull-up, turnaround, fadeaway, all of them — are second to none, and he’s also a freak athlete who can play through contact and out of reach. Distance finished to score,” the website reads. “And then there’s his control, because Jordan often managed to win games in the most high-pressure situations imaginable. Oh, and he was a top-notch defender, too.”
As for James, he is definitely a better passer and rebounder than Jordan. He was also a good defender in his prime – though not quite on Jordan’s level.
Unlike Jordan, James has bounced between three different teams and won four championships. Jordan’s six all came with the Bulls.
It doesn’t matter. James deserves credit for more or less spearheading the opportunity for superstars to change teams and creating the best situation possible by not being afraid to exercise his rights in free agency. Some people don’t like the idea, but the bottom line is, both James and Jordan deserve applause because they were more than just great players. They are basketball trendsetters.
“James came into the NBA with unrealistic expectations, but somehow managed to outperform everyone — and then some,” HoopsHype wrote. “James is clutch, scoring ridiculously high points, rebounding Also very good and a great playmaker, which is his most impressive trait. Few players can match James’ ridiculous basketball IQ, and by the end of his career, he could Use that IQ to continue to dominate over the next few seasons.”
Michael Jordan? LeBron James? HoopsHype made its choice. Now, what about yours?
The top 10 looks like this:
- Michael Jordan
- LeBron James
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- magic johnson
- Bill Russell
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Larry Bird
- Kobe Bryant
- Shaquille O’Neal
- tim duncan
You can view the 77ers’ full roster on HoopsHype.