Boeheim's Debate

The past week or so there has been a lot made of whether or not Lebron James at age 27 is a superior player to Michael Jordan was at the same age.  I am here to answer that question and settle the debate.  Let us begin by looking at the statistics of these two players at that age. 

Michael Jordan’s 1990-1991, 7^th season, 1^st championship season

Regular Season Numbers: 31.5 PPG, 6 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1 BPG, .539/.312/.851 FG/3PT/FT, 22.4 FGA, 1.1 3PA, 8.2 FTA, 31.6 PER

Post Season Numbers: 31.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 8.4 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG, .524/.385/.845 FG/3PT/FT, 22.1 FGA, 1.5 3PA, 8.7 FTA, 32.0 PER

Lebron James’ 2011-2012, 9^th season, 1^st championship season

Regular Season Numbers: 27.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, .9 BPG, .531/.362/.771 FG/3PT/FT, 18.9 FGA, 2.4 3PA, 8.1 FTA, 30.7 PER

Post Season Numbers: 30.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, .7 BPG, .500/.259/.739 FG/3PT/FT, 21.8 FGA, 3.7 3PA, 10.2 FTA, 30.3 PER

So if you are looking at it from strictly a statistical perspective than Michael Jordan was a slightly superior ball player to Lebron James when both were 27 years of age.  Jordan had a slight statistical edge in the regular season.  Jordan would be the better and more efficient scorer and had superior defensive statistics, while Lebron was the better distributor and rebounder, but Jordan had the slight edge in PER so I am giving the advantage to him.  Then it the postseason, while Jordan slightly elevated his play, on the whole Lebron slightly lowered it, increasing Jordan’s gap on Lebron and providing a statistical advantage.  In Jordan’s postseason he remained almost exactly the same player except that he slightly increased his rebounding and he significantly increased his assists.  Lebron James on the other hand, because Chris Bosh missed time and Dwayne Wade was playing injured had to change his playing style.  He had to increase his scoring load, thus taking more shots, and had to play more time at the 4 which forced him to increase his rebounding.  Thus though on a combined regular season and postseason statistical model that

                There are other things to consider though besides who had a better statistical season Lebron or Jordan to determine who was a better player.  You have to factor in quality of play around the league, intangibles, and non-statistically measured basketball skills.  First let’s look at the quality of play around the league and who each player/team had to get through to win their first ring.  Jordan and the 1991 Bulls were able to get through a physically tough but not great Knicks team, a Charles Barkley led 76ers team, the Bad Boy Pistons, and a better than people realize Magic Johnson led Lakers with a 15-2 record.  The Heat defeated a talented but enigmatic Knicks team, a pretty good but starless Pacers team, an old and hurt Celtics team and a great young OKC team with a record of 16-7.  I think Jordan’s accomplishment is more impressive, because I believe the quality of the Lakers and OKC were approximately equal and I think Jordan’s cruise through the Eastern Conference was more impressive. 

                Then you must look at rules in place that affected the player.  Today’s rules more greatly favor perimeter players and allow them to get to the rim easier than they did when Jordan played.  To me this signifies that if Jordan played in today’s game than he would be even more successful than Lebron was in his day.  So I would say Jordan would shoot a higher percentage from the field and shoot more free throws than he did when he played.  The so called “Jordan Rules” would never be allowed in today’s game as players are never allowed to be as physical as the Jordan Rules dictated.  Basically the only method that worked in any way to limit Jordan’s effectiveness is outlawed now so now his game would be practically unstoppable.  Lebron would still have been an all-time great in Jordan’s day, he still would be a dominate player, but he probably wouldn’t be as dominate. 

                Defensively, while Lebron may have been a more versatile defender that could guard more positions, I would still give Jordan the slight edge there.  He is the better on ball defender and was better in the passing lanes and was surprisingly a better shot blocker.  While Lebron may be able to guard Kevin Garnett, something Jordan couldn’t do, I would still take Jordan overall as a defender.

                Then of course there are intangibles which I am sure almost everyone would give Michael Jordan the edge in.  He is the killer, the ultimate competitor and someone who would do anything to defeat his opponent.  Lebron is the kid afraid of the moment that shrank in last year’s Finals and needed to run to his friend Dwayne for help.  Personally I think Lebron answered all his intangible questions with this past season, he wasn’t afraid of the moment and came up big when it mattered most.  He put the team on his back and carried it to the Finals when many doubted him.  In Lebron’s favor is the fact that he seems like he would be more fun and much easier to play with than Jordan would.  However I would still give Jordan the intangible edge, no one would ever question his will, and while Lebron elevated his teammates through the way he played, Jordan did though fear that you had to live up to his standards. 

                In the end while Lebron is an absolutely amazing player and is playing at the highest level of any player post Jordan, he still isn’t the superior player to 27 year old Jordan.  Really this debate has to stop; it isn’t fair to either Jordan or Lebron.  He has transformed his career, into the greatest player since Jordan, and is an elite level player but don’t compare him to the man.  Michael Jordan was a unique player, who was the best offensive player in the league, the best defensive guard in the league, and the greatest competitor that elevated the play of his teammates don’t compare Lebron to Jordan just appreciate what Jordan did and what Lebron is doing now.