Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: who is the GOAT of basketball?

Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: who is the GOAT of basketball?

Claudia Kogi, Adrianna Simwa
updated at August 30, 2023 at 9:16 AM

Since LeBron James was dubbed The Chosen One, as far as basketball is concerned, several conversations have emerged about whether he could surpass Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. And while MJ vs LeBron James stats comparison needs deep analysis, it is only fair to say they are both outstanding players.

mj vs lebron
LeBron James and Michael Jordan attend the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Kevin Mazur (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Even though the two are being compared, LeBron grew up idolizing Michael Jordan. He dressed like him, wore his shoes, and even studied his pitch skills for starters. Here is a detailed LeBron vs Jordan comparison and the level of success the two legends have achieved.

MJ vs LeBron, who is the GOAT of basketball?

Michael Jordan and LeBron James are two of the greatest basketball players in history, often mentioned in debates about the greatest basketball player of all time (GOAT). Both players have had an enormous impact on the NBA and have left a lasting legacy in the basketball world, but who among them is the greatest? Here is a brief look at their career achievements.

Michael Jordan's profile summary

Full name

Michael Jeffrey Jordan

Nickname

MJ

Date of birth

17 February 1963

Place of birth

Brooklyn, New York

Age

60 years old (as of 2023)

Nationality

American

Zodiac sign

Aquarius

Height

6 ft 6 in (198 cm)

Weight

216 lbs (98 kgs)

Net worth

$2.2 billion

Michael Jordan, hailing from the United States, is a retired professional basketball player and successful businessman. He is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest basketball players ever to grace the sport.

His remarkable talent on the court has brought him immense fame and substantial wealth, solidifying his position as one of the world's wealthiest athletes.

Jordan was born on 17 February 1963 at Cumberland Hospital in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York City. He is the son of Deloris, a bank employee, and James R. Jordan Sr., an equipment supervisor.

LeBron James' profile summary

Full name

LeBron Raymone James Sr.

Date of birth

30 December 1984

Age

38 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Akron, Ohio, the United States of America

Nationality

American

Zodiac sign

Capricorn

Height

6'9" (206 cm)

Weight

250 lbs (113 kgs)

Net worth

$1 billion

LeBron James is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). LeBron has played for several NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.

James was born on 30 December 1984 in Akron, Ohio. He began playing organized basketball in the fifth grade. He is a multiple-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winner.

Michael Jordan vs LeBron James' career points

What stats does Jordan have over LeBron?
Michael Jordan attends the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets game on March 1, 2023, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo: Kent Smith
Source: Getty Images

MJ is renowned for dominating a particular game and single-handedly outshining his opponents. On the other side of the coin, James is a more balanced player who scores when challenged to score, but even more, he is renowned for getting all his teammates involved in the game. Here are the table summaries of LeBron's career averages and those of MJ.

LeBron James vs Michael Jordan regular season stats

The table below illustrates the two renowned NBA players' career accolades since their debut in the national team.

Achievements

LeBron James

Michael Jordan

Won NBA championship

Eight championships

12 championships

Number of times led the league

Seven times

28 times

Games played

1,421

1,072

Field goal percentage

.505

.497

Rebounds per game

7.5

6.2

Blocks per game

.8

.8

Games started

1,419

1,039

3-point field goal percentage

.345

.327

Assists per game

7.3

5.3

Points per game

27.2

30.1‡

Free throw percentage

.735

.835

Steals per game

1.5

2.3

Michael Jordan vs LeBron James' playoff record

Here is a comparison of the average playoff records of Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Achievements

LeBron James

Michael Jordan

Rebounds per game

9.0

6.4

Assists per game

7.2

5.7

Field goal percentage

.495

.487

Points per game

28.5

33.4‡

Blocks per game

1.0

.8

LeBron James vs Michael Jordan career achievements

Here is an overview of their NBA career achievements.

Michael Jordan

  • Six-time NBA champion
  • Six-time NBA Finals MVP
  • Five-time NBA MVP
  • NBA Defensive Player of the Year
  • NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 10-time NBA scoring leader
  • Three-time NBA steals leader
  • 14-time NBA All-Sta
  • Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 10-time All-NBA First Team
  • One-time All-NBA Second Team
  • Nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
  • Two-time IBM Award winner

LeBron James

  • Four-time NBA champion
  • Four-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
  • Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 19-time NBA All-Star
  • Three-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 19-time All-NBA selection
  • Six-time NBA All-Defensive selection
  • NBA Rookie of the Year
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • NBA scoring leader
  • NBA assists leader
  • Three-time NBA minutes leader
  • J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Who scored more MJ or LeBron?

Who scored more MJ or LeBron?
LeBron James dribbles the ball during Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals. Photo: Adam Pantozzi
Source: Getty Images

LeBron James currently has 38,652 regular season points after the 2022/23 season. MJ, on the other hand, closed with 32,292 scoring points.

What stats does Jordan have over LeBron?

When comparing the two legends' stats, LeBron James has participated in 1,421 contests in his NBA career and accounted for 54,093 mins in those contests. On the other hand, Michael Jordan has accumulated 41,011 mins and has played 1,072 games in his pro basketball career.

Did LeBron break MJ's record?

Jordan retired roughly 6,000 points behind Abdul-Jabbar, but LeBron James ultimately surpassed this milestone. With James continuing to play, it is anticipated that he will extend the record significantly, rendering it nearly impossible to surpass.

The MJ vs LeBron comparison has had an enormous impact on the NBA, and each player has left a lasting legacy in basketball. Their styles of play and achievements make comparisons between them a common topic of debate among basketball fans.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
Adrianna Simwa photo
Adrianna Simwa
Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Sports Brief, where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years.