I don't think this is a good comparison at all. The gap between training, nutrition, and medicine in the NBA from the 1990s to the 2010s is much smaller than the gap between the 1960s and the 2010s in football. The basketball and court are the same from the 90s to 2010s unlike the advances in the ball and boots and field conditions in football from the 60s to today. And the NBA league structure with drafts is exactly the same which is very different from the league structure in the 80s when Maradona played to today post-Bosman and with the Champions league and clubs with excessive amounts of money to build superteams. Rules in the NBA from 90s to 10s are also basically the same unlike the major changes in physical challenges allowed in football from Pelé -Maradona eras to today.
So the Jordan-James comparison isn't the same as comparing Messi to Pelé. A more accurate comparison would be to look at the structural advantages that Tom Brady has compared to NFL quarterbacks of the 1960s-70s where you also have major training, nutrition and medical advances from the 60s to 10s, the helmet, field, and ball have greatly improved, the rules have changed to protect quarterbacks much more in Brady's era than in the 60s. Tom Brady never would have come close to playing into his 40s had he played in the 1960s and it's very likely the best 1960s quarterbacks would have drastically improved careers, statistics and longevity-wise, had they played in the 2010s.
Why did you choose 60s to 2010s in football and 90s to 2010s in basketball? Why not compare Maradona to Messi? because Jordan and Maradona both played in the 80s and 90s as are Bron and Messi. This makes for a better debate. The defending in Pele's era looked woeful. Basketball in the 80s they were taking cocaine just before basketball games, they would raging party boys and alcoholics. Now dudes like Lebron spend 1million per year on his body. Basketball has had bigger rule changes since the 90s, than football which has effected both offense and defense including changing the distance of the 3 pt line to the extent that it is hard to say the past generations 3 points shooters would even be regarded 3 pt shooters in todays game. Jordan went from 37% 3pt (pretty effective rate today and similar to Harden) right down to 23% (would be one of the league worst today) when they adjusted the 3 PT line. There were also rule changes in terms of handchecking, illegal defense, which completely transformed a teams defensive schemes and also how you defend 1 vs 1. Refs call contact FAR easier meaning dudes get to the 3 throw line super easy for a free score.
Here are some:
https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/11-im...ecking-allowing-zone-defense-after-banning-it
I think basketball has changed far more since the 90s than even football has. the only rules I can think are "golden goal, away goals" removal.
Really good post.
The only thing I would add, that while I will always be ‘Jordan is the greatest’, it is very unclear if he was better than James. James is bigger and stronger, he is a better playmaker, passes far better, and shoots better, especially from behind the ark. Jordan was a better iso scorer though.
Statistically, LeBron beats Jordan in pretty much everything except points per match. More points (both in regular and playoffs), more rebounds and assists (both in regular and playoffs, both in total and averaged per game). He has the longevity factor, and he would have won as many rings if it wasn’t for KD teaming up with the Warriors. I know that it is an if, but honestly you cannot blame him for losing against a team that had the second and third best player in the league, in addition to two other all stars. And he lost one cause the second and third best players in his team got injured, leaving fecking Dellavadova as his second option.
I know a few ifs. Jordan is the greatest though, no doubt there. But LeBron might have been better. And as you well said, the difference in time there was much smaller than between Pele and Messi, the pitches and the ball were the same, and the Americans were always ahead in sports science, easily a decade before Europeans.
Only one that is true. When Jordan played point he was clocking 8+ assists per game. In the play offs Lebron averaged 7.2 assists to Jordans 5.7.
He has averaged 6 assists in the finals to Lebrons 7.8, considering Jordan is primarily a scorer. Jordan like Kobe were excellent passers when they chose to do so.
Shooting they are not even in the same class. 80% plus of Lebrons field goals are at the rim (lay ups and dunks). that isn't a shooter. he isn't making the jumpers Jordan was, spins then fade aways from 15 feet I give you the 3pt but fact is Jordan scored far more off of jump shots than Lebron it sacrilege to call Lebron a better shooter. he isn't even a shooter.
Lebron beats Jordan in stats? Lets look at per game ONLY since you are comparing a 20 year career to a 13 year one. Not scoring, nor steals and they are equal in blocks despite Lebron being 3 inches taller. Lebron absolutely should lead in rebounds since he has a 3 inch height advantage and 30lbs heavier (basically a big) and Jordan plays on the perimeter. Lebron also leads in turnovers per game.
Longevity actually goes against Lebron if he doesn't keep winning. Basically you are racking up all these empty stats. Russell Westbrook beats Larry Bird in points, boards, assists but would you agree there is quite a gap between them?
Also the KD thing is guesswork. Before KD the series was won by 4 pts in the final minute with GSW being more than capable of beating the Cavs on another day.
If the Warriors did not get KD they could just trade or get another allstar. All they needed was someone better than Harrison Barnes. It took Kyrie and Lebron having a historical series of games whilst Barnes was averaging 9 pts for the Cavs to win. It is very probable Lebron would have won no more as what is the likelihood of Kyrie and Bron doing that again and Barnes being the 3rd option on 9 pt. I dont like this argument.