LeBron James missing the playoffs for the first time in a generation has of course, elicited comparisons with another great NBA player, Michael Jordan.
It’s an argument that has been played and replayed over the years. I think reputations have been built or “unbuilt” on such a comparison.
Jordan vs. James.
The Greatest of All Time vs. the Greatest of All time (with an asterisk*).
Why the asterisk? Ask his critics.
As for me. I’ve always been a Michael Jordan fan. Ever since I saw my first NBA game, Jordan was that one guy who I’d look forward to watching. The guy who would get me to wake up at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. to watch his epic series against the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks or the Miami Heat, when Dennis Rodman got inside Alonzo Mourning’s head and wrecked his game.
LeBron? Well, thanks to social media, you don’t need to be up during tipoff. You can catch up with the updates of his games.
Which brings me to that unique question a friend once raised during a James vs. Jordan argument.
Would MJ be as romanticized by basketball fans had social media existed in his time?
Everyone loved MJ. In fact, back then, I could only recall of one basketball fan, a kababayan, who said he didn’t like MJ because he found him too much of a brag. And I was like, what? “Lord MJ? He who could do no wrong having a flaw in his character?”
A few years ago, I read the Jordan Rules, which had a special 20th anniversary edition. And the first thing that got into my mind was this: the young fan in me would have been heartbroken to read the stuff written about my idol, but I don’t think it would have stopped me from becoming a Jordan fan.
Of course, these days, you just have to check every other NBA post or meme to find out the latest mishap LeBron James had.
So, who do I think is better between the two?
Who holds the more significant achievements?
Who’s the real goat?
You could say that it’s the guy who won a couple of three-peats against the guy who made eight straight NBA finals. But, like they said, the NBA then isn’t the NBA now.
He’s (Jordan) the player that got everyone talking, as one said. But hey, didn’t everyone talk about LeBron when he made the move to Miami and to the Lakers?
Scottie Pippen, during the Bulls’ chase for that 70-win season, simply said when he was asked whether the 69-win Lakers could beat that season’s bulls roster, “Anytime, anywwhere, we’ll play them.”
Of course it would be an epic marketing coup if you get MJ to play LBJ one-on-one, but Pippen aside, that doesn’t answer the question.
But I do remember one thing I read in a book about that 72-10 Bulls. Instead of comparing the 69-win Lakers and the 72-win Bulls, the writer simply pointed out to not get lost in the argument but instead enjoy the team, the players and their time in the court, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
LBJ is surely a once-in-a-lifetime player, and I guess I’ll just enjoy him, while he’s still around.
What’s your take?