The ESPN documentary series “The Last Dance” showed a younger generation of NBA fans that Michael Jordan is much more than a guy who sells retro sneakers. For those who witnessed Jordan’s excellence over the course of two three-peats with the Bulls, it reinforced the belief that he is the greatest player to ever touch the court.
A current star has complicated that GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation, of course. There is an argument to be made for putting LeBron James over Jordan, and James’ case only grew stronger after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
The Sporting News’ Bill Bender has a helpful guide with the most important talking points if you’re ready to discuss MJ vs. LeBron, but we’re simply here to provide the facts you need to justify your choice. Don’t be the person yelling “six rings” with no backup plan.
Here’s a closer look at where the GOAT debate stands…
(All stats current as of Feb. 15, 2024)
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season stats
On a per-game basis, Jordan is superior in the scoring department, but James grabs rebounds and dishes out assists at a higher rate. While both players are known for tenacious defense on the wing, Jordan finished first in the league in steals three times in his career. James has not yet claimed a steals title.
In terms of longevity, James holds a clear advantage. The gap in total numbers will widen as long as James stays healthy, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down at age 39.
Jordan
Per Game
LeBron
30.1
Points
27.1
6.2
Rebounds
7.5
5.3
Assists
7.3
2.3
Steals
1.5
0.8
Blocks
0.7
2.7
Turnovers
3.5
38.3
Minutes
38.0
49.7
Field goal %
50.5
32.7
3-point %
34.6
83.5
Free throw %
73.5
Jordan
Totals
LeBron
1,072
Games
1,470
32,292
Points
39,868
6,672
Rebounds
11,018
5,633
Assists
10,800
2,514
Steals
2,248
893
Blocks
1,102
2,924
Turnovers
5,125
41,011
Minutes
55,804
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season advanced stats
It’s all about which category you choose when it comes to advanced statistics. VORP and Win Shares favor James, but PER and Box Plus/Minus go to Jordan.
Pick a side, nerds! (That’s a term of endearment.)
Jordan
Advanced
LeBron
27.9
Player Efficiency Rating
27.1
116.1
Value Over Replacement
149.9
9.2
Box Plus/Minus
8.7
214.0
Win Shares
260.1
56.9
True Shooting %
58.8
33.3
Usage %
31.6
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Playoff stats
The playoff statistics mirror what Jordan and James produce during the regular season. Despite James’ increased usage and efficiency from beyond the arc over the course of his career, it’s worth noting that he shoots about the same percentage as Jordan from 3-point range.
Oh, and the lazy narrative claiming James shrinks in big games — his postseason lines are often more impressive than his regular-season performances. That’s not a smart way to argue against him.
Jordan
Per Game
LeBron
33.4
Points
28.5
6.4
Rebounds
9.0
5.7
Assists
7.2
2.1
Steals
1.7
0.9
Blocks
1.0
3.1
Turnovers
3.6
41.8
Minutes
41.3
48.7
Field goal %
49.5
33.2
3-point %
33.1
82.8
Free throw %
74.1
Jordan
Totals
LeBron
179
Games
282
5,987
Points
8,023
1,152
Rebounds
2,549
1,022
Assists
2,023
376
Steals
471
158
Blocks
270
546
Turnovers
1,015
7,474
Minutes
11,654
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Playoff advanced stats
Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. But James tops everyone 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 Over Replacement
35.4
11.1
Box Plus/Minus
10.0
39.8
Win Shares
57.9
56.8
True Shooting %
58.3
35.6
Usage %
31.8
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Accolades and awards
And here’s the big one. Jordan fans have championships in their back pockets. MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game 7 to win those series.
James has gone 4-6 in his 10 NBA Finals appearances, but he also controlled the Eastern Conference with the Cavaliers and Heat for almost an entire decade.
Jordan
Accolades
LeBron
6
Championships
4
5
MVPs
4
6
Finals MVPs
4
11
All-NBA
19
9
All-Defense
6
14
All-Star
20
10
Scoring titles
1
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