Jordan vs. LeBron

RolandDeschain · Mar 4, 2025

So, a nerdy buddy of mine posted the LeBron meme seen in the top of the pic below, and I figured I'd double down on making fun of him. This made me wonder: do any .netters believe LeBron to be better than Jordan, or his equal? The main reason I want to know is just so I can self-righteously judge you and have a lower opinion of you than whatever my current opinion of you is. Also, yes, I'm fully aware that the meme I posted in response to my friend is a power cable not an HDMI cable, but I didn't feel like using an AI tool to change it before throwing my response in the Discord chat.

TheLegendOfBoom · Mar 6, 2025

I think this largely depends on what era of NBA you began watching.

The youngest age group that was able to see Jordan play are millenials.

Millenials and generations before millenials likely will say Jordan is and always will be superior to LeBron.

IMO, LeBron, is not even the closest to Jordan.

Kobe is the closest to Jordan.

Kobe has been asked if he believes he is “better” than Jordan and Kobe responds without Jordan there would be no Kobe.

But, I personally think the GOATs are Jordan and Kobe.

RolandDeschain · Mar 6, 2025

I agree that Kobe's above LeBron. What era you grew up watching shouldn't matter that much on this though, Jordan not only played in a much tougher era, but Jordan also built a ridiculous legacy of THRIVING UNDER PRESSURE above and beyond any other athlete in any other sport I've ever seen.

Want to guarantee that you lose tonight? Walk up to MJ and make fun of him. That fierce warrior mentality does not exist in LeBron. Whereas MJ takes taunting against him so personally he'd not only make sure he beat your ass on the court, but he'd also metaphorically go bang your wife after the game and legally adopt your kids so he's their daddy as well as yours. LeBron is like a Toyota; sturdy and reliable, high quality, lasts a long time. Jordan is like a Bugatti or Pagani. Nobody in their right mind would say the Toyota is a better car even though it'll wind up with way more miles on it than the Bugatti or Pagani; but "LeBron is the GOAT" fans rest their laurels on stat accumulation over time because it's the only thing you can even TRY to use (however misguided/irrelevant it may truly be) to put LeBron in the GOAT debate. He doesn't even belong in that debate, much less to be considered a serious contender for the GOAT title. LeBron would be laying down on the court and crying in some of his games if he played in the same era Jordan did.

bileever · Mar 6, 2025

Not arguing that LeBron is the GOAT, but he had the potential to become the GOAT, and had a couple of seasons that were amazing, but overall, he didn't put together the stretch of success that Jordan had.

In some ways, LeBron would have done better in an earlier era. Back when play was more physical, LeBron's size and strength would have been a bigger positive factor for him.

RolandDeschain · Mar 6, 2025

bileever said:
In some ways, LeBron would have done better in an earlier era. Back when play was more physical, LeBron's size and strength would have been a bigger positive factor for him.

You have to be willing to USE your size, not just HAVE it. LeBron would not have been the "physical, dominant ass-kicker" type back in the 90s. His mentality does not support that. It's like WRs in the NFL that are huge but can't manage to box out DBs that are eight inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter.

IndyHawk · Mar 6, 2025

RolandDeschain said:
You have to be willing to USE your size, not just HAVE it. LeBron would not have been the "physical, dominant ass-kicker" type back in the 90s. His mentality does not support that. It's like WRs in the NFL that are huge but can't manage to box out DBs that are eight inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter.

I always thought that Lebron in Jordan's era would be a Karl Malone type
at best.

Sol Duc · Mar 6, 2025

Lonnie Shelton vs Lebumb. lol

IndyHawk · Mar 6, 2025

I fo

Sol Duc said:
Lonnie Shelton vs Lebumb. lol

I forgot about Shelton but that body type compares, can you imagine Lebron
trying to play against the worm or Charles Oakley?
I know Lebron wouldn't have lasted but 10-12 years at best.

86Hawk · Mar 6, 2025

I'll take MJ. But I have a soft spot for LeBron beating OKC in the finals in 2012. Yes I'm a bitter Sonics fan.

ruffENrowdy · Mar 7, 2025

I really wonder how exaggerated Lebron's glops would have been in the 90's haha. I really use to love watching basketball back then, it's not even remotely close these days. The Last Dance series really woke me up to how it was back then compared to the crap that they have now.

Gametime · Mar 7, 2025

Lebron = Offense
Jordan = Offense, Defense, + clutch factor, & he didn't NEED other superstars around him to win. He made players around him better.

Jordan did more on the court in a much more physical NBA than Lebron did. It's not all about points when talking GOAT. That's my take.

Ostatehawk · Mar 7, 2025

It is Jordan and it isn't close.

9 time all defensive and 10 time scoring champ.

6 time league MVP 6 time NBA finals MVP

I agree Kobe is second and closest to Jordan.

Ostatehawk · Mar 7, 2025

Honestly the closest to Jordan outside of basketball is Tiger Woods.

Stone Cold Killers - both of them.

Ycrew · Mar 8, 2025

Sorry but Kobe is crap. The team and the coach and the organization lets him shoot and shoot the ball even if he misses. There is no accountability.

Lebron is good, but he doesnt have that clutch gene like Kobe or Curry to make a 3pt in the final buzzer.

MJ is top 1.

hedgehawk · Mar 8, 2025

It’s not even close in my opinion. Imagine Jordan in today’s NBA.

TheLegendOfBoom · Mar 8, 2025

RolandDeschain said:
You have to be willing to USE your size, not just HAVE it. LeBron would not have been the "physical, dominant ass-kicker" type back in the 90s. His mentality does not support that. It's like WRs in the NFL that are huge but can't manage to box out DBs that are eight inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter.

If LeBron played in the late 80s and early 90s, because of the physicality of that time, even a guy the size and athletic ability of LeBron probably wouldn’t have lasted as long as he is now. The game became a lot “softer” since the 2000s.

It probably actually benefitted LeBron and his legacy greatly playing in 2002 until now. He didn’t have to deal with the power forwards and centers of those 80s and 90s decade.

If LeBron played in the era of an early Kevin McHale, Ric Smits, Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone, early Shaq era, LeBron’s game would be entirely different than it came to be.

LeBron greatly benefitted from playing in the 2000s and 2010s era cause he didn’t have to go against those big guys.

Jordan, will always be the GOAT and only Kobe should be mentioned in the same class.

Kobe, was the only thing closest mentally with that killer instinct in basketball since Jordan.

jeremiah · Mar 8, 2025

RolandDeschain said:
I agree that Kobe's above LeBron. What era you grew up watching shouldn't matter that much on this though, Jordan not only played in a much tougher era, but Jordan also built a ridiculous legacy of THRIVING UNDER PRESSURE above and beyond any other athlete in any other sport I've ever seen.

Want to guarantee that you lose tonight? Walk up to MJ and make fun of him. That fierce warrior mentality does not exist in LeBron. Whereas MJ takes taunting against him so personally he'd not only make sure he beat your ass on the court, but he'd also metaphorically go bang your wife after the game and legally adopt your kids so he's their daddy as well as yours. LeBron is like a Toyota; sturdy and reliable, high quality, lasts a long time. Jordan is like a Bugatti or Pagani. Nobody in their right mind would say the Toyota is a better car even though it'll wind up with way more miles on it than the Bugatti or Pagani; but "LeBron is the GOAT" fans rest their laurels on stat accumulation over time because it's the only thing you can even TRY to use (however misguided/irrelevant it may truly be) to put LeBron in the GOAT debate. He doesn't even belong in that debate, much less to be considered a serious contender for the GOAT title. LeBron would be laying down on the court and crying in some of his games if he played in the same era Jordan did.

LeBron needs to be tested for HGH and hormones #1, Jordan was the best player since Bird and Magic. LBJ is behind those three at least. I have zero interest in the modern version of the NBA. It is not interesting at all, it is boring and doesn't take much skill when you can take multiple steps during a dribble, pick up the dribble and get three steps towards the basket. Better yet, you can stop your dribble, pick up the ball, step back and launch a shot. To say nothing of charging through defenders, and they get the fouls called. There is no D there is no O... Then again, I can't stand the modern game.

Hollandhawk · Mar 8, 2025

RolandDeschain said:
You have to be willing to USE your size, not just HAVE it. LeBron would not have been the "physical, dominant ass-kicker" type back in the 90s. His mentality does not support that. It's like WRs in the NFL that are huge but can't manage to box out DBs that are eight inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter.

Are you referring to a certain (for now) Seahawks receiver?

ruffENrowdy · Mar 8, 2025

hedgehawk said:
It’s not even close in my opinion. Imagine Jordan in today’s NBA.

Jordan in today's NBA would be suspended because he said something mean to someone lol. Its part of the reason it's so funny to see shaq or Barkley talk shit about the current product

RolandDeschain · Mar 9, 2025

Hollandhawk said:
Are you referring to a certain (for now) Seahawks receiver?

I wasn't, but you can paint Metcalf with that brush, yes.

Jordan vs. LeBron

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