Scottie Pippen is the latest entrant in the ‘GOAT debate club’, comparing Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the best way possible.
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Pippen was part of the ‘Jordan entourage’ in Chicago and has a fair idea of how Michael Jordan functions on and off the court.
Now, while Jordan was the undisputed GOAT until LeBron came along, the NBA fraternity has been divided ever since, as LeBron’s numbers match up to Jordan’s.
However, Jordan leads in the ‘NBA finals record’ category, having a 6-0 record in the finals, compared to LeBron’s 3-6 record.
It's a royal birthday! 👑Have a day, @KingJames! pic.twitter.com/zWVKnziXZw
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 30, 2018
In 4th grade, LeBron James had no steady home, slept on friends’ couches and missed ~100 days of school because he had no ride.
Today he turns 34 as one of the best and most influential athletes ever.
You couldn’t write a better story.
— Thomas Duffy (@TJDhoops) December 31, 2018
LeBron James knows the moment he believes he became the 🐐.
He explains why in the latest episode of “More Than An Athlete,” now available on E+: https://t.co/JFXu1pCEYe pic.twitter.com/IUcC90zHxq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 31, 2018
Jordan is clearly the better player with respect to clutch situations and has had a bigger impact on the sport, especially in terms of global presence.
Pippen now has weighed in on the debate, coming up with a brilliant explanation to point out the difference between LeBron and Jordan.
He has highlighted how LeBron’s role is different to Jordan’s, with the Bulls(or even the Wizards) not deploying him in the way LeBron’s teams have deployed(used) him.
LeBron has better statistics with respect to Jordan, but Pippen feels that the statistics favour LeBron as he is used in such a role.
“Like fine wine, I feel like I’m getting better with age.”
Bron speaks on the birthday wishes 🍷 (via @KingJames) pic.twitter.com/3s7YYJOPwZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 30, 2018
“LeBron James plays a different role from Michael Jordan as a player. He was never asked to do things that LeBron can do for his team. I had another role. For this reason, statistically, LeBron numbers are much better than Jordan ” explains Scottie Pippen.
“We did not use Michale to do the kind of things that the Cavs use LeBron James. That’s why you can say that the comparison is unfair” he added.
Pippen’s comments are on point here, as Jordan and LeBron have been used in different roles by their teams.
On his 34th birthday, LeBron James himself weighed in on the GOAT debate, admitting that after the 2016 NBA finals win over the Warriors, LeBron felt that he was the greatest player of all time.
While MJ hasn’t ever spoken about himself being the greatest player of all time, LeBron just went out and said that he did consider himself being the greatest player of all time?
Do you think it was naive of LeBron to have said something like that? Or did he genuinely at that point in time feel that was the greatest player of all time(well Cavs did manage to beat the Warriors from 3-1 down in the finals).
