There are levels to everyone’s game, but certain players like Michael Jordan or LeBron James have so many, that you would need more than an expert to determine who is better at what.
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There’s no denying the fact that MJ was the better scorer the 10x scoring champion is the unarguable GOAT at scoring. But when it comes to the overall game and improving teammates, LeBron is in a category with the likes of Magic Johnson and Chris Paul.
Meanwhile, he is also on the verge of crossing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an all-time top scorer in the league. It’s insane how versatile James is. But not for Jerry West, he always had the 18x All-Star on the same level as Jordan.
Jerry West once admitted to Michael Jordan and LeBron James being on the same level
In an interview with Dan Patrick a few years ago, when the 4x MVP was still playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Lakers legend was asked by the veteran analyst turned podcaster whether it would be fair to compare LeBron and Jordan given that they played in different eras.
The Logo without any filter went on to explain his way of assessing greatness which he said had nothing to do with championships but the totality of game and all round talent.
Talking about how Karl Malone and John Stockton never won a championship but were tremendous on both ends of the floor, the first MVP of the NBA said James and Jordan are on the same level.
James is good as anybody can be on the basketball court
There can be only GOAT, and MJ is going to be it for most people. But when talking about a level, both of them are in a tier that only has two of them, probably Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe Bryant.
Getting to 8 straight NBA Finals is no easy feat. Even if the 4x Finals MVP lost more of those than he could win, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t belong in the conversation with Jordan. If anybody does, it’s those three.
