Imagine that you’re watching the greatest basketball match of all time with two of the greatest players. On one side, you’ve got the six-time champion and the utmost competitor Michael Jordan, while on the contrary, there’s Lebron James; the four-time MVP and the most versatile player ever. Who would you bet on? Who would you root for?  Who is better, Michael Jordan vs LeBron James? This petty question has divided fans, players, and analysts for years. We’ll examine the arguments in favor of and against each player to jump to a conclusion. 

Michael Jordan vs Lebron James: Early Careers

In 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls and played for the team till 1993 he retired from basketball and shifted his focus to baseball for a year for the Birmingham Barons that’s a minor league team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox before returning to the NBA in 1995.

In 2003, LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and played for the team till 2010 when he joined Miami Heat from 2010 and played for them till 2014 before returning to the Cavaliers. 

Michael Jordan vs Lebron James Stats 

Michael Jordan and LeBron James are two of the greatest basketball players of all time. Jordan played 1,072 games and scored a total of 32,292 points throughout his career, while James has played 1,421 games and has scored 38,652 points. When it comes to distributing the ball, James has the edge with 10,420 assists compared to Jordan's 5,633. In terms of rebounding, James also has the advantage, grabbing 10,667 rebounds compared to Jordan's 6,672. 

Both players are known for their defensive prowess, with Jordan amassing 2,514 steals and 10,073 blocks, while James has recorded 2,186 steals and 893 blocks. When it comes to shooting percentages, James has a higher field goal percentage at 54.50% compared to Jordan's 50.90%. In terms of three-point shooting, James also has a slight edge with a 34.50% three-point percentage compared to Jordan's 32.70%. However, Jordan has the upper hand in free throw shooting, with an 83.50% free throw percentage compared to James' 73.50%.

Jordan vs. LeBron Accolades

Michael Jordan has won five regular season MVP awards and six NBA Finals MVP awards while Lebron James bagged himself  four regular season MVP awards and four NBA Finals MVP awards. All in all, Jordan has won six NBA championships throughout his career and James has won four. 

Michael Jordan’s Net Worth vs Lebron James’ Net Worth

As of June 2023, Michael Jordan holds a net worth of $2 billion and a major chunk of his fortune has come from his NBA salary, ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets (which he had sold for approximately $3 billion in June 2023) and endorsement deals from brands like Nike.

LeBron James on the other hand owns a net worth of $1 billion in 2023 and he’s the first active NBA player to become a billionaire. James has earned his major deal from his NBA salary, endorsement deals and investments in multiple businesses like Blaze Pizza and SpringHill Company.

Therefore, Michael Jordan has a higher net worth than LeBron James by about $1 billion.

Michael Jordan says Lebron is the best? Is it True?

This is false information that spread on social media in December 2018 as Michael Jordan has never stated that LeBron James was the greatest basketball player of all time. According to Snopes, the claim originally came from a fake tweet that circulated and was attributed towards Jordan. The tweet read:

"I want to congratulate @KingJames for becoming the greatest player of all time. He has surpassed me in every aspect of the game and I'm happy for him. #GOAT"

There’s no evidence that proves that Jordan ever tweeted or posted about james. In fact, he was always reluctant to make a comparison between himself and the active player as he considers this act as unfair and disrespectful to the other generations and players in basketball NBA history. Michael Jordan personally considers himself as the best player but not of 'all time’

Talking about James, yes, he’s called himself a great player in a footage from TNT which posted a video of Shaquille O’Neal asking Lebron James about being the greatest player of all time after he broke a score record. James replied that he would take himself against anybody that ever played the game and that he always feels like he is the best to ever play the game. Perhaps, this tweet is in no sense somewhat or even related to Michael Jordan.

Therefore, the claim that Michael Jordan said that LeBron James was the greatest basketball player of all time is entirely false and a rumor.

Who is better, Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

Michael Jordan and LeBron James are two of the greatest basketball players of all time. It is difficult to say definitively who is better, as they both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the debate over who’s the better player is a matter of opinion. 

There’s clear consensus, and both players have strong arguments in their favor. It’s enough to note that both Jordan and James are elite in their own ways but I would personally choose Michael Jordan to take the cake for this one as he’s a  more prolific scorer, a better defender, and has won more championships. I have written an article comparing Kobe Bryant and Lebron James similar to Who is better, Michael Jordan or LeBron James. Do check it out. Share what you would choose among the two GOATS in the comments below!

Boston Celtics will host the Dallas Mavericks at the TD Arena for the NBA Finals (Game 2). Both the teams brought their A-game to the field. But the Celtics emerged victorious in Game 1 with a final score of 107-89. Jaylen Brown (22 points) and Kristaps Porzingis (20 points) led the scoreboard which helped the Celtics secure the win. The Mavericks fell short of 11 points with leading contributions from Luka Doncic (30 points) and PJ Washington (14 points).

We are heading to the NBA Finals 2024 (Game 2) where it's Goliath vs Goliath and it can be anybody's playoff at this point. The Celtics lead by 1-0 with an incredible comeback from Kristaps Porziginis who returned after a 39-day injury layoff and scored 20 points, adding three blocks and six rebounds in 21 minutes. 

The East vs West basketball saga for 2024 will head to its second chapter where anticipation is to the fullest as to who will achieve the win and head to Game 3. Boston will step in as the team leading the playoffs. All eyes will be on Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and recently returned Kristaps Porziginis as they aim to move forward with a (2-0) lead for the rest of the playoffs. But all has not been lost as Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic and PJ Washington will look for the win to tie the NBA Finals at (1-1).

 Let's take a look at the squad stats of the champions of Eastern Conference and Western Conference as they go head-to-head against each other in the NBA Finals 2024 (Game 2):

BOSTON CELTICS

Starting lineup:

Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum has scored 16 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 5 assists and 11 rebounds(2 offensive rebounds and 9 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Jaylen Brown

Eastern Conference Finals MVP Jaylen Brown has scored 22 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 2 assists and 6 rebounds(1 offensive rebound and 5 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	23.0
Assists per game	3.6
Rebounds per game	5.5
Steals per game	1.2

 

Derrick White

Derrick White has scored 15 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 5 assists and 2 rebounds(1 offensive rebound and 1 defensive rebound).

Stats per game:

Points per game	20.1
Assists per game	5.2
Rebounds per game	4.2
Steals per game	1.0

 

Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday has scored 12 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 5 assists and 8 rebounds(2 offensive rebounds and 6 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	12.5
Assists per game	4.8
Rebounds per game	5.4
Steals per game	0.9

 

Al Horford

Al Horford has scored 10 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 3 assists and 7 rebounds(2 offensive rebounds and 5 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	8.6
Assists per game	2.6
Rebounds per game	6.4
Steals per game	0.6

 

Super-sub : Kristaps Porziginis

Kristaps Porziginis scored 20 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 3 blocks and 6 rebounds(6 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	15.2
Blocks per game	1.9
Rebounds per game	7.2
Steals per game	0.7

 

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Starting lineup:

 Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving has scored 12 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 2 assists and 3 rebounds(3 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	25.6
Assists per game	5.2
Rebounds per game	5.0
Steals per game	1.3

 

Luka Doncic

Western Conference Finals MVP Luka Doncic has scored 30 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 1 assist and 10 rebounds(10 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	33.9
Assists per game	9.8
Rebounds per game	9.2
Steals per game	1.4

 

P.J. Washington 

P.J. Washington has scored 14 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 1 assist and 8 rebounds(3 offensive rebounds and 5 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	12.9
Assists per game	1.9
Rebounds per game	5.6
Steals per game	1.0

 

Derrick Jones Jr.

Derrick Jones Jr. has scored 5 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 6 rebounds(2 offensive rebounds and 4 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	8.6
Assists per game	1.0
Rebounds per game	3.3
Steals per game	0.7

 

Daniel Gafford

Daniel Gafford has scored 8 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 1 assist and 3 rebounds(3 offensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	11.0
Assists per game	1.6
Rebounds per game	7.6
Steals per game	0.9

 

Jaden Hardy

Jaden Hardy has scored 13 points in NBA Finals 2024 (Game 1) with 1 assist and 3 rebounds(3 defensive rebounds).

Stats per game:

Points per game	7.3
Assists per game	1.5
Rebounds per game	1.8
Steals per game	0.3

 

 The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics will play on Sunday, June 9 in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific time (8 p.m. Eastern time)

India put out a dominant show at the Asian Open Pickleball Championship as they finished with four gold and two bronze medals in Vietnam on Tuesday. 

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra confirms his participation at Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar

Four gold and two bronze medals for Team India

In the highly competitive team event at the Asian Open Pickleball Championship, which included two men's doubles, one mixed doubles, and one women's doubles match, team India displayed exceptional skill and teamwork, securing the gold medal.

Sachin Pahwa and Priyanka Chhabra gave India its first gold medal by defeating Ruben Hellberg and Chitlada Hemasee 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 in the final of 35-plus category mixed doubles. 

Whereas in women's doubles, the pair of Isha Lakhani and Pei Chuan Kao won the gold medal by defeating Dang Kim Ngan and Tyak K 15-7, 15-3. 

India's Aniket Patel and Rohit Patil won the gold medal in men's doubles. They overcame Nik Alessandro Isagan and Lester Ga in a hard-fought match.

Despite facing adverse conditions, Aniket and Rohit bounced back after losing the first set and eventually won with final scores of 5-11, 11-6, and 11-8.

Also Read: 70 relay teams qualify for the Paris Olympics at World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24

In the men's 35 plus category, Vijay Menon won the bronze medal by defeating Yu Hsuan Cher, while in the women's singles, Priyanka Chhabra defeated Marissa Phongsirikul to win another bronze medal for India at the Asian Open Pickleball Championship.

Pickleball is a combination of tennis, table tennis, and badminton. This is a fast-growing sport across the world and in the recently concluded Bengaluru Open 2024 more than 400 participants from 17 states participated.

In the US, the game is already skyrocketing in popularity with the likes of Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, and Maria Sharapova embracing the padel. Similarly, stars like Lebron James and Tom Brady have invested in professional teams. 

With a strong contingent of 35 individuals, the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) played a vital role in supporting India's talent on the international stage. 

Have you ever wondered what NBA players do during their downtime? NBA players have 82 games a season (and more if they make the playoffs), which means that a lot of their time is taken up by playing games, traveling all across the States (and occasionally into Canada), training, working out, and team meetings. This means that the small amount of downtime that NBA players get is important, so it is vital that they make the most out of this limited time. There are a few activities that are popular among NBA players during their downtime that help them temporarily forget about basketball and recharge.

 Rest

Being an NBA player is incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally. Therefore, rest is vital when it comes to downtime. NBA players will spend much of their free time simply relaxing at home, recovering from the demands of the job.

Online Casino Games

Following this, many NBA players like to play different types of games when resting. Games like online casino games can be great fun, allowing NBA players to briefly forget about basketball and enjoy their free time. NBA players do not get many opportunities to visit real-life casinos, so online casinos can be a great alternative and provide the ability to play poker, roulette, blackjack, and other casino games from the comfort of home or on the road. You can also look on review sites for the best online casino bonuses Australia has to take advantage of deals and promotions.

Also Read: The NBA Today: A Look at Some of the Best and Worst Moments This Season 

Practice

Although basketball is a job, it is also a passion for NBA players. Therefore, it is not surprising that many will spend their downtime practicing, whether this is working on their shooting, dribbling, strength training, or improving their fitness.

Family Time

Many basketball fans dream of playing in the NBA, but it is not quite as glamorous as it might seem. NBA players must spend a lot of their time away from home playing an 82-game season (and possibly the playoffs) in cities all over the US and Canada (Toronto). This can take its toll, so it is important that NBA players spend quality time with family at every opportunity.

Business Ventures

You will find that many NBA players also have business ventures on the side. While the star players around the league will make eye-watching money each season that will set them and their families up for life, other NBA players do not earn as much (although many do still have other businesses). Many pursue ventures on the outside that will help them maintain a high standard of living once they hang up the boots.

Community Work

You will frequently see NBA players involved in community and charity work, which is fantastic to see. Of course, this is often part of the contract that they have with their team, but many partake in community work and philanthropic work on their own time. Many NBA players understand how lucky they are and will use their profile and resources to effect positive change in their communities to help those less fortunate.

Mental Wellness

As mentioned, life as an NBA player can be incredibly physically and mentally demanding. NBA players are under enormous pressure to perform to a high standard, and during a time of social media, many experience hate and negative comments. Therefore, it is no surprise that mental wellness is an important part of downtime for players. This can include meditation, mindfulness, spending time with loved ones, and therapy.

Downtime is precious to an NBA player, so it is vital that they have activities that they can turn to that will help them to recharge and recover. The above are a few of the main ways that NBA players do this and activities that help them manage the demands of life in the NBA.

LeBron Raymone James, or LeBron James, is a top-rated NBA player currently playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Basketball fan knows him as King James as he is one of the best players to grace basketball and has broken several records and pushed the game to new heights.

While the debate is on who is the most favorite basketball player, no one denies what King James brings. He certainly has had his name inscribed in the annals of NBA history thanks to his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming an All-time scorer. His legacy transcends basketball and sports, inspiring people from all walks of life globally.

In this guide, we'll look at who this outstanding player is and what his impact is on basketball and outside the game.

LeBron James Background

LeBron James, hailing from Akron, Ohio, was born in 1984 and raised by his mother. From a tender age, James' talent and basketball skills were evident. His remarkable talent was noticed by coaches who gave him opportunities that set his career on a path to success.

Thanks to his incredible athletes, he led his St. Vincent- St Mary's High School team to 3 state championships, winning the title of Ohio's Mr. Basketball. Over the 4 years with the team, attracted media attention, quickly becoming a national sensation and one of the most demanded high school players. He appeared on the cover of Sports magazine, headed "The Chosen One".

In his senior year, LeBron was ranked as the national high-school player, leading him to be picked to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft.

Another one of his remarkable achievements was being signed by Nike for a whopping $90 million, even before playing his first game professionally. If you're looking for the best place to read about LeBron James online, you can find the latest updates on a reputable NBA site.

Also Read: The Richest Footballers of All Time

LeBron James Professional NBA Career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)

James's effect was immediate in his debut in the 2003-04 season playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. As a 6-foot-8-inch well-built athlete playing point forward, James had unique capabilities to bring the ball down, making it harder for the opponents to score. His outstanding athleticism led to him winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award

As his skills improved, he was picked as a starting forward on the Eastern Conference All-Star team in the 2004-05 season. He helped the Cavaliers reach a playoff berth in the 2005-06 season, which was the first for the Cavaliers in 9 years.

In his fourth season (2006-07), James led the Cavaliers to beat the favored Detroit Pistons to reach the franchise's first NBA finals berth. Although they lost to the San Antonio Spurs, James had a fantastic season attracting interest and being ranked among the best NBA players.

In the preceding years, he would lead his team to improve league position, and in the process, he achieved various awards like the ALL-NBA honors in the 2007-08 season and the ultimate Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 2008-09 season after piloting a record 66 wins for the Cavaliers and averaging about 30 points

Move to Miami Heat (2010–2014)

As one of the most envied free agents in the league's history, James signed with the Miami Heat and led them into the finals in his first year. With an average of 27.1 points per game, he earned his third MVP while advancing Heat to the second consecutive NBA finals. The Heat swept the Oklahoma City Thunder to emerge as the season champions.

The 2012-13 season was arguably James's memorable season with impressive achievements of 28.8 points average, 565 field-goal percentage, 7.3 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, a career-high. He also led Heat to win 27 consecutive games, which is the 2nd longest winning streak in NBA history, he earned his 4th MVP award.

He kept his stellar performance in Miami Heat to the end of his contract after the 2013-14 season and returned to Cleveland.

Back to Cavaliers (2014–2018)

While at Clevelander, he helped the young Cavaliers attain achievements and remarkable career heights. He attained an all-time individual performance with a 35.8 points average, 8.8 assists per game, and 13.3 rebounds.

James earned another MVP title after becoming the first player to lead 5 statistical categories of players in the finals with the Warriors. The Cavaliers made history as the first team to rebound from a 3–1 finals deficit to win in franchise history, ending a 52-year championship drought for the Clevanders.

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–to date)

Before James's entry to the Lakers, their jersey ranked 4th most popular. James's impact saw the sales shoot by 600% within 3hrs of the announcement. This made it the highest-profile sale for a free-agent player.

Upon joining the Lakers, James kept his high-level performance with a 27.4 points average, 8.3 assists, and 8.5 rebounds. However, he was ruled out for the remaining part of the season due to injury. In 2019-29, James bounced back, and under his leadership, they opened with a 17-2 record to match the best-ever start in NBA history.

He also surpassed the Lakers' Kobe Bryant with an all-time regular scoring list before the COVID-19 pandemic and later won his 4th Finals MVP and NBA fourth championship.

LeBron James: Beyond Basketball

LeBron James's inspiring journey and impact are far-reaching outside of basketball. The successful entrepreneur champions social justice and equal access to education, among other initiatives.

Through his James Family Foundation, he contributes money running into millions to charities and scholarships to support the underprivileged.

Conclusion

LeBron James is considered by many basketball fans as one of the greatest NBA players, thanks to his determination and discipline, he has achieved the high level of success that most players dream of.

Even as he heads to retirement, his legacy continues to shine and inspire many in and outside basketball.

In an electrifying pre-game encounter, basketball legend LeBron James crossed paths with soccer superstar Lionel Messi before the highly anticipated opening match of Leagues Cup 2023 for Inter Miami CF. The star-studded meeting took place as Inter Miami faced Cruz Azul, setting the stage for an unforgettable moment for the fans.

As fans eagerly waited for Messi to appear on the field, it was announced that the seven-time the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would begin the match on the bench. However, when LeBron James and Lionel Messi were seen together, it made the audience even more excited and made them think about what they share and how much they admire each other's fantastic achievements.

Read Also: Football Transfer News : Former Barcelona star joins Leo Messi at Inter Miami, The Frenchman chooses Inter over AC Milan 

With all the promotion for Lionel Messi's first game in Leagues Cup 20223, LeBron James being there makes the soccer event even more special. Although, Messi not starting the game added an element of surprise and anticipation for when he enters the game and potentially makes a big impact.