Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the two names that immediately come to mind when discussing the greatest NBA players. While various comparisons have been made between the two NBA legends’ NBA careers, their individual statistics, and off-court impact, the challenges they have faced from other star players during their respective eras are rarely discussed.
In their career, Michael Jordan led the Los Angeles Lakers star in average scoring, while King James is the all-time scoring leader in the league’s history. The 10-time NBA scoring leader won six championships, five MVPs, and six Finals MVP honors. On the other hand, LeBron James is a top achiever with better assists, rebounds, field goals, and 3-point shooting averages than the Chicago Bulls legend.
Comparison Between Michael Jordan And LeBron James’ Teammates
While Michael Jordan played with legendary players like Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr, among others, LeBron shared the court with All-Stars, including Kyrie Irving, Dwayne Wade, and Anthony Davis, in his NBA career. Take a look at the comparison between Jordan and James’ teammates.
Scottie Pippen vs. Dwayne Wade
Scottie Pippen and Dwayne Wade are the foremost names that strike first when discussing Michael Jordan and LeBron James’ teammates. Pippen and Jordan played in the Chicago Bulls’ two championship-winning three-peats, and the former is considered the Bulls legend’s greatest ally.
On the other hand, LeBron James won his first championship ring following nine seasons in the NBA after pairing up with Dwayne Wade. The duo won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 with the Miami Heat. However, the partnership was cut short after LeBron returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.
Scottie Pippen averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in his 17 seasons. Dwayne Wade played from 2003 to 2019 in the NBA and averaged 22 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks in the regular season.
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Also Read: Top 7 Players With Most NBA Championships: Where Does Michael Jordan Rank?
Steve Kerr vs. Kyrie Irving
Steve Kerr was a legendary player and a successful coach, winning nine NBA championships as a player and coach combined. He was a significant part of the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors and the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, which have the two best regular-season records in the NBA’s history.
On the other hand, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James played as Cleveland Cavaliers teammates for three seasons from 2014 to 2017. The duo powered the Cavs to their first-ever NBA championship in 2016; however, the star guard stepped away from James’ shadow to establish his name.
In his 15-season career, Kerr played an average of 17.8 minutes per game, winning five championships and 11 playoff appearances. Irving has been a prolific scorer and was the key player in the Cavalier’s 2016 NBA championship victory.
Dennis Rodman vs. Anthony Davis
Dennis Rodman and Anthony Davis are two defensive standouts who played alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Both superstars earned multiple NBA All-Defensive Team selections. While the Bulls legend played 14 seasons in the NBA, winning five championships, the Lakers center joined the league in 2012, winning a championship and the inaugural Pla-In Tournament.
The two-time NBA All-Star has won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice, and the 2017 All-Star Game MVP has played in nine All-Star Games. Rodman led the league in rebounds in seven seasons, while Davis is a three-time NBA block leader. Considering his role in the Bulls, Rodman was included to provide strength and possession, while Davis has an all-around impact from scoring to blocks.
Also Read: Top 5 NBA Stars Who Have Starred In Hollywood Movies: Ft. Michael Jordan And LeBron James
Player Comparison Between Michael Jordan And LeBron James’ Eras
Apart from playing alongside top stars, Jordan and James faced significant challenges from other teams. Here is the comparison of legendary players in a particular position from Michael Jordan’s period to the All-Stars from LeBron James’ era.
Danny Ainge vs. Stephen Curry
Danny Ainge was one of the toughest guards Michael Jordan had faced. The two-time NBA champion in 1984 and 1986 dominated the head-to-head fixture against Jordan, with a 26-18 record across the regular season and playoffs.
While Ainge’s Celtics eliminated the Bulls twice in the Playoffs first-round, Jordan had the last laugh with two back-to-back NBA Finals victories in 1992 and 1993. Ainge played the 1991-92 season with the Portland Trail Blazers and the 1993 NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns.
Stephen Curry has been arguably the biggest hurdle between LeBron James and the NBA championship. The two athletes faced each other in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2014 to 2018, with the Golden State Warriors star winning three titles. In their 52 overall head-to-head clashes, Curry dominated LeBron with a 29-23 record.
Patrick Ewing vs. Nikola Jokic
New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing faced Michael Jordan 70 times, with the Bulls legend dominating the clash with 49 wins. Jordan never lost a Playoff series against Ewing, with three semifinals, a first-round, and a Conference Finals victory. In their head-to-head average statistics, Ewing led Jordan in rebounds and blocks per game.
On the other hand, Nikola Jokic dominated the head-to-head fixtures against LeBron James with a 9-5 post-season record. On the other hand, the Lakers star won 11 out of 21 regular season clashes against the Nuggets center. In their three playoff clashes, LeBron won the 2020 Western Conference Finals against Jokic, while Denver eliminated the Lakers in the 2023 Conference Finals and first round in the last season.
Jordan was a scoring monster, winning the scoring leader honor 10 times in his career, while James, being the only NBA player with 40,000+ points, 10,000+ assists, and 10,000+ rebounds, is known for his all-around performance. The two NBA greats played in different positions and faced opponents of distinct levels in the context of their own eras.
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