Defense
Without question, Jordan is one of the fiercest players to ever play the game on the other end of the floor. We touched on his offensive ability and how he’s close to bar-none, now lets dig into what also separated MJ from the pack – his stifling fortification.
When compared – its quick to see the differences between LBJ effort and MJ effort. One one hand, LeBron outweighs Jordan by 34 lbs, so you’d imagine the force James might be on the defensive end. Quite contrary. Despite being “bigger and stronger”, LBJ is no match to Jordan. Back in ’88, MJ became the first player in NBA history to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and the MVP awards in the same year. Olajuwon is the only other to achieve that.
Secondly, MJ holds the 3rd best all-time record for steals in a season. LeBron – 16th. LBJ would need 649 more thefts to match MJ. Career-wise, they both wash out with BPG at 0.8, but MJ does have 5 more career blocks in 71 less games played. Additionally, MJ saw his best BPG season in ’88 with 1.6 BPG where LeBron’s best outing was in 2009 with 1.1 BPG. Though James is the all-time leader in steals for the post-season.
Here are both career and playoff defensive stats:
- Career SPG: LBJ (1.6) – MJ (2.3) – 3rd all-time
- Playoff SPG: LBJ (1.8) – MJ (2.1) – 7th all-time
Still, MJ was doing more with less – having been the steals leader in a season thrice to Lebron’s goose egg. Accounting for all of that, probably the most eye popping defensive stat for this comparison would the All-Defensive team award, where Mike supersedes LeBron 9-6. Side note, all nine were 1st team honors for MJ, while James was awarded five 1st team awards and one 2nd team. MJ doesn’t even know what a second team looks like.
Mike was a match-up nightmare, and was ultra-quick on his toes, so it would difficult to drop your shoulder and barrel through there lane for an easy bucket. LBJ would be wallowing to refs about a no call if Jordan stuck him – no question. Also, Jordan never flopped – just saying.
It’s doubtful with today’s NBA culture that LeBron would leave scott-free if he played the Pistons or Suns of the 90’s. With no Mt. Mutombo’s to climb, and The Admiral sailing his last ship years ago, Shaq was on the downswing and Ewing was past his prime – all juggernauts down low that LeBron never met but Jordan dominated. Its hard to imagine a player like LBJ would come to blows with Barkely, Reggie Miller, or Lambier – all scrappers. MJ was toe-to-toe with them nightly.
Peep some of that MJ defensive below, and then check out some of LeBron’s and you make the call. There’s really no argument.
Unanimous Winner: Michael Jordan