LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: The Age-Old Question

TREY MAULTSBY (V)

The debate over who deserves the title of “best basketball player” is an ongoing one that may never be settled. Although there are many legends of the game, the consensus is that LeBron James and Michael Jordan are the two top players. They have sparked an unimaginable number of heated arguments over who the better player, or basketball G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time), is. Both have achieved their own assortment of remarkable statistics and awards, and carved out unparalleled careers, effectively becoming icons on and off the court.

The pro-Jordan argument is often based on his accolades and awards. He famously won six NBA Championships, with a record of 6-0 in the finals. He was the NBA Finals MVP six times, the NBA MVP five times, and the NBA scoring leader ten times. Jordan had an astonishing career average of 30.1 points per game. Along with these awards, he was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and was selected to nine All-NBA Defensive first teams.

In comparison, James has won four NBA Championships and is a fourtime NBA Finals MVP and four-time regular season MVP. He has been the NBA scoring leader four times and has a career average of 27.2 points per game. James has made the AllNBA Defensive first team five times.

Although Jordan objectively has the better accolades, many people believe James has the edge because of his overall skill and ability. James has the clear physical advantage. He stands at 6’9” and weighs about 255 pounds. Jordan, on the other hand, is 6’6” and weighed a much lighter 215 pounds in his prime. James is considered to be one of, if not the most, versatile players ever, with an ability to score, pass, and rebound at a very high

One other advantage James has over Jordan is his incredibly long basketball career. Jordan retired at the age of 32 after 15 seasons in the NBA, and James is still playing is the only player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 10,000 assists, and 10,000 rebounds, illustrating his extraordinary durability.

When it comes to other qualities level. He is extremely intelligent and has a unique capability to make plays for himself and teammates. James has been surrounded by weaker talent and faced tougher opponents than Jordan ever did throughout his career. James has taken subpar teams all the way to the NBA Finals with unbelievable performances. at an MVP level at age 38. James has shown zero decline in what is now his 20th NBA season. James will become the highest scoring NBA player ever in a month with 38.388 points. This is possibly the most distinguished award in the league, despite scoring not being James greatest strength. James that don’t show up on the stats, such as leadership and “clutchness,” both players are in a league of their own. Jordan was known for his incredible will to win, while James is known for his ability to inspire and motivate his teammates. Jordan was a fierce competitor who had a knack for making big shots when the game was on the line, while James often takes over games and carries his team to victory. So back to the question. Of course, there is no easy answer, and this topic will continue to be debated until the end of time. But, alas, because of his superior ability in all aspects of the game other than “volume” (less-efficient) scoring and perimeter defense, the most dominant and greatest person to ever touch a basketball is none other than the king himself, LeBron James.

MIRIKA JAMBUDI (VI)

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, February is the perfect time to curl up with a good book on the couch—preferably with chocolate nearby. With a mix of classics and recent releases, here are some of my must-read novels to keep you going through the month. The first on my list is On Earth

We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. The book is written as a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. The speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties and reveals his family’s history from Vietnam before eventually settling