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LeBron, Kobe, or MJ — Who’s The Greatest Of All Time?
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan are three of the most legendary players to ever step foot on an NBA court. Though each player blossomed into greatness, which one had the biggest impact on the sport of basketball?
And who’s the best of all time? It’s a highly debatable question, so let’s take a look at the similarities and differences in their careers.
Draft Value
All three superstars were selected in the first round, but only Jordan was taken from a college team. MJ was chosen third overall, while Bryant and LBJ emerged directly out of high school, and were selected 13th and first respectfully. After investing so heavily in these players’ abilities, at what age did they begin translating their talents to the pros?
Age Difference
Though both Bryant and James had the opportunity to hit the NBA straight out of high school, Jordan came through the ranks of college ball first. Playing three years at the University of North Carolina, MJ entered the league by age 21, while Kobe and LeBron were playing by ages 18 and 19 — but let’s see how this factored into year one…
Rookie of the Year
Of the three, only one failed to win the Rookie of the Year honors, and that was Bryant. Both Jordan and James started immediately on their teams, averaging more than 20 points a game while Kobe was coming off the bench and only averaging 7.6 per game. But soon, none of this would matter…
First Playoff Appearance
Both Jordan and Bryant appeared in playoff games in their first season. This makes sense, considering they were taken by successful franchises in the Bulls and Lakers. James, on the other hand, played in Cleveland and needed a couple years to rebuild. So was LeBron’s rise more impressive because he started out with less?
First All-Star Nomination
Michael Jordan was the only one of the three to become an All-Star in his rookie season. Each of them would get the nominations repeatedly throughout their careers, but Jordan stunned the league from the get-go. But who had the most All-Star appearances?
All-Stars
Since Jordan played fewer seasons, he earned fewer All-Star nominations. Fourteen is still incredibly impressive in 15 seasons, while Kobe earned 18 in 20 seasons. LeBron is already up to 16 as of 2020, but with plenty of playing days left, he’s almost guaranteed to top Bryant’s total. The next order of business is to figure out who was the most reliable scorer…
Scoring Titles
All three have led the league in scoring, but Jordan has trumped the others again. In seven separate seasons, MJ averaged more points per game than any other player, while Bryant managed it twice, and James has only accomplished this feat once. But that’s just in one season — who was the best scorer over the span of their career?
Career Scoring Average
All three players have averaged at least 25 points per game in their careers, with Bryant’s equaling exactly that. James comes in second with 27.1 per game, while Jordan leads the way with 30.1. Each guy is an extremely gifted scorer, but only one player can come out on top when it comes to the most points scored over their career…
Total Points Scored
Bryant was able to pass Jordan on the all-time scorers list in his waning seasons, finishing fourth in history with 33,643 points, while Jordan sits fifth with 32,292. But James has now surpassed them both with 34,241, putting him third all time, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. Could he catch Malone and Abdul-Jabbar? But still, scoring isn’t all that matters when it comes to legacy…
Team Players
LeBron left his original team to play with Wade and Bosh in Miami to win his first championship, but does this hurt him? He went back and won in Cleveland, and now made it happen in Los Angeles too. Jordan was surrounded by Pippen and Rodman, but Kobe also had guys like Shaq and Gasol. At the end of the day, it matters how well the teams gelled as a whole, so who was the best disher-of-assists for their team?
Assist Totals
Believe it or not, James has already surpassed the other two in assists, and by a long shot! His 9,346 are approaching double that of Bryant’s 6,306, and Jordan’s 5,633, certifying him as a team player rather than just a pure scorer. So who was the most effective on defense?
Defensive Efficiency
Truth be told, none of these guys made it to the NBA for their defensive talents, but each of them were particularly efficient. James is easily the best end-to-end defender, while Bryant and Jordan were each turnover machines. LeBron will have the most first team defensive player nominations, but what happens when you put these players in the Olympics?
Olympic Production
Not only do these players have NBA championships, but all three have at least two gold medals in the Olympic games, with James having an additional bronze. The catch here is that James won MVP for both of Bryant’s golds, and MJ won MVP in his two appearances too. But the Olympics aren’t the only flashy outliers you can excel in…
Slam Dunk Contest
One thing LeBron has always caught flack for is not competing in the All-Star Weekend’s Slam Dunk contest. Jordan won the thing in 1987 and again in 1988, while Bryant took home the honors in his rookie season back in 1997. However, there are much more important accolades to take home during the All-Star Weekend…
The All-Star Game
Considering they’ve all had so many appearances, you’d think they’d dominate most of the games. But Lebron has three All-Star MVP awards now, while Jordan and Kobe also have just three and four respectively. But of course these are just leisurely outings, so who delivered when it mattered most — in the playoffs?
MJ’s Playoff Resumé
A main reason Jordan is regarded so highly is because he not only scored like a madman during the regular season, but during the playoffs as well. On eight occasions he scored the most points of any player in the postseason, fermenting him as someone that even the best defenders couldn’t stop. So how does this stack up against Kobe?
Kobe’s Playoff Resumé
Bryant was always prideful of being able to deliver in the clutch, and that often showed when his Lakers needed him. In four different playoff years, Kobe both attempted and made the most field goals of any player. All four times he also led in points scored. When he was on, the Lakers had a good chance to win, but was LeBron an even better postseason player?
LeBron’s Playoff Resumé
James has been insanely dominant in the playoffs, and that’s largely due to the lack of production he’s had around him. LeBron has led in minutes, field goals, trips to the free throw line, assists, and even scoring on many occasions throughout his 14 trips to the playoffs, making him one of best postseason players ever. But now we must discuss hardware…
Finals Appearances
If making it to the Finals was all that mattered, these guys all did well. Jordan had six appearances, Bryant had seven, and James has made a staggering ten trips to the Finals. However, you also need to be able to win to certify “greatness,” don’t you?
Championships
Interestingly enough, the number of championships rank inversely with appearances. Jordan won all six he was a part of, while Bryant was successful on five of seven trips. James on the other hand has had a less-than-stellar 4-for-10 record after his most recent title with the Lakers. But just winning the ‘ship isn’t everything. It’s all about who controlled games and won MVP…
Finals MVP
Lucky for LeBron, every time his team won the Finals, he was the MVP, including the fourth time in 2020. But unfortunately, MJ did the same thing — six championships, six MVP awards — and this is what most people think separates him from anyone else. Kobe, on the other hand, finished his career modestly with two. But what about regular season MVP nods?
Regular Season MVP
Winning a championship doesn’t make you the best player over the course of a season, but winning regular season MVP means you’re mighty productive. Bryant took home one of these, while James has four and Jordan has five. With more years left, LBJ could easily overtake MJ, but we’ll have to wait and see. So, what’s the deciding factor?
Crunching the Numbers
At the end of the day, productivity and rings go hand-in-hand. Though players like Kobe and LeBron bring the same flair and passion as Mike, all of what MJ did on the floor led to Chicago Bulls titles. Even with Bryant and James having longevity and numbers, Jordan took over games in a way that hasn’t been replicated since. So is the modern era tougher than the one Jordan played in?
4th Title
The simple answer is no. But, LeBron has made an extremely good case for why he’s the most consistent basketball player in the history of the sport. The man has now made the playoffs in 14 of his 17 seasons, and his team’s are undefeated in the first round. Basically, any team with him has a fighting chance… But with more scope always on Jordan, how does the comparison play out? And where does Kobe fit in?
The G.O.A.T.
Sure, when all is said and done, perhaps LeBron will overtake Michael Jordan as the best NBA player ever, but until then, no one has made a bigger impact on his team, his career, and the sport as Michael Jordan. Five MVPs, six championships, and six Finals MVPs should cement that, for now at least. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are not far behind, but it’ll always be hard to catch the G.O.A.T.
