There has long been a discussion of who the G.O.A.T in the NBA is. Mostly, it has always been between LeBron James and, of course, Michael Jordan. Two different eras of basketball but chasing greatness on a G.O.A.T scale. These two cover what it takes to be great, but which one is actually the G.O.A.T. of the NBA? Let’s find the facts and stats to see who it is.
Jordan’s Regular Season Stats
This will be hard, with both players playing in different eras of the NBA. Let’s start with MJ, who played for the Chicago Bulls during his first stint from 1984 to 1993. Jordan had a career stat line of 30.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 6.2 RPG. He had an astounding 8 seasons, averaging over 30 points per game. Jordan also surpassed 2000 points over ten seasons, making him among the greatest scorers in the history of the NBA.
Jordan’s offense was not his only way of showing off his greatness. He was also one of the NBA’s best defenders, having 2,514 career steals. Jordan was one of the rarest two-way players the league has ever seen. The way he scored that many points while shutting down whoever he was guarding on the other end is still unheard of. You can also check out those stats yourself here in this article. Here’s how both G.O.A.T players are still impacting the game.
Lebron’s Regular Season Stats
LeBron James came to the NBA straight from high school, unlike MJ. The other difference is that LeBron, who is 40, still plays in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers, so these totals will change after this article is published. That said, his career regular season stat line now is 27 PPG, 7.4 APG, and 7.5 RPG. LeBron has played with three different NBA franchises, while Jordan has played with two.
LeBron has only averaged 30 points or more in a season just 3 times to Jordan’s 8. Jordan also has him beat with LeBron, only having six 2000 or more point seasons. You can check these stats on this ESPN article. So, with all these regular season comparisons, I say Jordan has won the regular season category. Let’s look at postseason accolades.
Post Season Accolades
The postseason is where superstars are made, and LeBron and Jordan are both just that. Let’s start with Jordan, whose post-season career stat line is 33.6 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 6.0 RPG. Then we look at Lebron’s, which is 28.4 PPG, 7.8 APG, and 10.2 RPG. I know you look at those stat lines and think, Jerry, those are pretty close in greatness, right? Well, then, let’s check out the NBA Finals to see who the true G.O.A.T is.
NBA Finals Accolades
LeBron has been to 10 NBA Finals for 3 different teams. He won two Finals with the Miami Heat, then one with the Cavs, and then recently with the Lakers. He has an overall record of 4-6. Now on to Jordan, who only went to the NBA Finals with one franchise, the Chicago Bulls. He is a perfect 6-0 in his finals appearances.
Final Thoughts
After researching this article, I have concluded that the G.O.A.T of the NBA is Michael Jordan. You cannot tell me anything different with all his accomplishments over his career. He has the stats that prove he is the best scoring guard the NBA has ever seen. He is also one of the toughest defenders on the court. That’s my conclusion on the G.O.A.T of the NBA. What’s yours?
