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“Far More Superior”: Former Rockets Legend Casts His Straightforward Vote in LeBron James vs Michael Jordan Debate

Published 10/24/2020, 11:00 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Michael Jordan was to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar what LeBron James has become to Michael Jordan. They are constantly hot in the GOAT debate that seems to ignore any and every other deserving name. 

Many former players have already admitted that it is very difficult to keep both the players on the same scale and figure out a better name. This comparison would be easier had Bron and MJ played against one another for at least a year.

But that never happened, and so it’s always left to intuition, numbers, and imagination to get to the answer. A former Houston Rockets legend still tried to be as straightforward as possible to cast his popular vote.

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LeBron James vs Michael Jordan, as per a league legend

In an interview, 57-YO phenom Hakeem Olajuwon sat down to give his view on the topic. He did not hesitate to express, “When people start comparing him with Jordan, then that’s not a fair comparison. Jordan was a far more superior player in a very tough league, and he was very creative. That’s not taking away anything from LeBron because he is a great player, but it is not a fair comparison because Jordan is a far superior player.”

Mr. Hakeem Olajuwon’s vote went to Michael Jordan. He also agreed to the fact that LeBron James is great in his own way. Now, his vote matters, but not just because he played during the Jordan era. It matters because he is one of the fiercest center players of all-time himself.

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The man averaged 21.8 points and 11.1 rebounds in 18 years to the NBA. The 7” monster has two NBA rings, of which one came in 1995, the decade that belonged to MJ. So if he is adding weight to MJ’s name, it means something. 

What made MJ’s era so unique?

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Phil Jackson’s Chicago Bulls, led by the great Michael Jordan, made the triangle offense popular. They devised tactics that set quintessential examples for others to follow. MJ thrived in a highly physical NBA environment because he was born for greatness. On the other hand, LeBron James played in an entirely different setting. So it can be difficult to determine whether he’d be that great in those days of the punishing NBA.

Michael Jordan evolved his game quicker than his opponents could study and reach par with his playing style. This helped him stay a champion until he left his favorite side. However, if Lakers’ LeBron wins one or two more titles, this debate can get fairer.

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Written by:

Sourabh Singh

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Sourabh Singh is an NBA sports analyst for EssentiallySports, who has been working with the site since May 2020. Prior to this, he functioned as Managing Editor at WittyFeed, followed by a stint at Decathlon. The Sports Management graduate leads an active lifestyle, veering to the mountains for off-trail adventures.
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