LeBron James’ Intimidating Legacy Fare Against Michael Jordan After the NBA’s New In-Season Tournament?

Cometh the hour, cometh the man—A phrase tailor-made for Michael Jordan, and justifiably so. After all, the notorious 5x MVP awardee and the Bulls never let a Finals series go to game 7. Leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in two separate three-peats, the magic potion was his winning mentality. Juxtapose that with LeBron James’s underwhelming 4 championship wins out of the 10 trips to the Finals stage, does this paint a fair picture for the who-is-the-GOAT debate?

Not entirely! For one, LeBron James makes a compelling argument with his All-Time numbers. Further, overtaking NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the All-Time scoring list, ranking #4 on the All-Time assists list, and 8th on steals, he has recently become the first player ever to score 39,000 points.

LeBron James can tilt the scale a bit against Michael Jordan

Nearing 39, James is as hungry as ever to win. Despite playing in his 23rd season, LeBron is still keeping “Father Time” at bay while being in contention for the In-season MVP trophy averaging 26.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, and is only behind the Pacers’s star Tyrese Haliburton. The NBA In-Season Tournament has presented itself as a huge opportunity for all the trophy-less teams. Far from being the coveted Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, teams, for instance, The Indiana Pacers have used the platform to reach the Finals. However, they will have to beat one of the most successful franchises in the league, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James.

In the quarter-finals, he had a game-high 31 points tied with Kevin Durant to eliminate the Phoenix Suns in a close game that ended 103-106. The 4x NBA champion erupted in the semi-finals against the New Orleans Pelicans with a game-high 30 points in just 23 minutes on the court leading the Lakers to a comfortable win.

Despite an underwhelming record in the Finals, LeBron James’s relentless drive to lead his team to the ultimate stage should not be underestimated. With four championships in 10 Finals appearances, he’s in striking distance of tying the legendary Bill Russell if he reaches the Finals two more times.

Notably, James achieved the remarkable feat of making eight consecutive Finals with two different teams—leading the Miami Heat from 2011 to 2014 and the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015 to 2018. This impressive accomplishment, however, was marred by challenging matchups against formidable dynasties like the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors, contributing to a less favorable Finals record.

However, it is easier said than done and the Pacers are no pushovers. If he continues his impressive run against the Pacers, he will certainly win the tournament and be crowned the In-Season MVP. The inaugural In-season trophy to be lifted by a legendary player like James seems fitting.

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Jordan vs James

Looking at the statistics, Jordan maintains a sizeable lead in points per game over James. However, James’ additional two assists per game have proven instrumental in generating more points for his teams. When Jordan retired at the age of 40, his scoring average exceeded 30 points. In contrast, at a year younger, James’ scoring average is currently at 27 points. It’s worth noting that James’ lead in total points is influenced by his having played more games than Jordan.

Jordan achieved the milestone of 30,000 points in 960 games, while James took 1,101 games to reach the same figure. Notably, Jordan took a two-year hiatus from the NBA after the Chicago Bulls secured the Championship in 1993. James had a comparable break during his time with the Miami Heat, along with a few additional days off. Despite playing fewer games, Jordan reached the 30,000-point mark well ahead of James, showcasing his efficiency and impact in a shorter timeframe.

Even if James experiences a decline in his scoring pace to 30 points per game over the last 23 games of the season, he remains on track to conclude the season with an impressive total of over 39,000 career points. This projection positions him within striking distance of becoming the NBA’s first-ever 40,000-point scorer, likely achieving this milestone in less than a full season.

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Nevertheless, if James makes history by winning the first in-season tournament, he will further strengthen his case in the GOAT debate. However, it won’t affect the legacy of Michael Jordan. That man won everything that was put in front of him!

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.