Why LeBron James is the NBA’s GOAT: How the legend’s stats and accolades compare to Michael Jordan in the debate

The term “generation” is often used to describe the most talented people in the world. The dynamic between LeBron James and Michael Jordan may be the most accurate representation of generational talent.

Born just over 20 years apart, Jordan and James only overlapped in the NBA for a few months. Jordan played his final game in April 2003 and James was selected first overall in the NBA draft two months later.

For much of the past 40 seasons, Jordan or James has been the face of the league, rewriting the history books with unparalleled excellence. As a result, the two are often referred to in conversation as the best players to ever play the game.

Who is the greatest of all time? The Sporting News takes a look at the career stats and accolades of James and Jordan to find an answer to one of sports’ age-old debates.

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Why LeBron James is the GOAT of the NBA

Entering his 22nd season, James has had the greatest career in NBA history.

Unprecedented longevity has led James to continue to perform at an All-NBA level throughout his career, and he will enter his age 40 season as one of the league’s best players. As a result, James is rewriting the NBA record book with untouchable marks.

After becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer in 2023, James became the first player in NBA history to surpass 40,000 career points in the 2023-24 season.

With his 22nd NBA season, James equals the record previously set by Vince Carter and has a good chance of playing in the most games in NBA history. James holds the record for most All-NBA selections and All-Star Game selections with 20 and is expected to continue to expand that number in 2024-25.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of James’ career is that he has somehow exceeded the unprecedented expectations placed on him as a teenager. James was thrust into the national spotlight as a 16-year-old and has spent the last 25 years thriving in it.

James’ list of accolades is highlighted by four NBA titles and four NBA Finals MVP awards. While some may hold James’ 4-6 Finals record against him, there’s something to be said for the fact that he has led three different franchises to the NBA Finals a total of 10 times, including a run of eight consecutive Finals appearances with the Heat and Cavaliers from 2011 through 2011 2018.

While many other all-time stars were eliminated early in the postseason, teams led by James came within at least four wins of an NBA title six times. How could he be punished for that?

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When it comes to James’ wins, some championships carry more weight than others. After winning back-to-back titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013, James returned to Cleveland in 2014 and, after falling short in his first year, led the Cavs to one of the most impressive championships in NBA history.

The 2016 Cavaliers became the first – and only – NBA team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, against a Warriors team that won an NBA-record 73 games in the regular season . James’ herculean performances in that series allowed his team to make history and end a 52-year playoff drought for the city of Cleveland, which added even more meaning for James, a Northeast Ohio native.

It’s also worth noting that his next two Finals losses came against the Warriors, who improved their 73-win team by replacing Harrison Barnes with Kevin Durant. James has competed against some of the best teams of all time.

That championship win in 2016 was James’ magnum opus. Leading the Lakers to the championship in 2020 was another title of particular significance.

By winning a championship during the NBA bubble in Orlando, James secured a place in Lakers history and gave the city of Los Angeles a title in a year in which it suffered incredible losses.

Put aside the longevity, numbers and accolades for a moment, and James’ GOAT case rests on a simple argument: There is no greater basketball player to ever play the game. At 6-9 and 250 pounds, James is one of the most physically imposing players, combining his size with unique strength, athleticism and basketball IQ.

His scoring and passing skills are generational, and at his peak he is one of the stingiest and most versatile defenders to ever play the game. James checks every box of what a great basketball player can do well, and for most of his career he has accomplished them at an all-time level. It literally doesn’t get any better than this.

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LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: Regular Season Stats

James’ longevity gives him the edge in overall stats, but Jordan has the edge in scoring average. To perfectly illustrate their dynamic, James is the all-time leading scorer, while Jordan has the highest goal average in league history.

The following statistics are as of October 22, 2024.

Stat	James	Jordan
games	1,492	1,072
Points	40,474	32,292
Points per game	27.1	30.1
rebounds	11,185	6,672
rebounds per game	7.5	6.2
Supports	11,009	5,633
Assists per game	7.4	5.3
Steals	2,275	2,514
Steals per game	1.5	2.3
Blocks	1,111	893
Blocks per game	0.7	0.8
FG%	50.6	49.7
3P%	34.8	32.7
FT%	73.6	83.5

LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: Playoff Stats

Similar to the regular season totals, James has a clear advantage in the overall playoff stats due to his 17 postseason trips and 10 NBA Finals runs.

Jordan, who has played in 108 fewer playoff games, is also the all-time leader in playoff points per game.

The following statistics are as of October 22, 2024.

Stat	James	Jordan
games	287	179
Points	8,162	5,987
Points per game	28.4	33.4
rebounds	2,583	1,152
rebounds per game	9.0	6.4
Supports	2,067	1,022
Assists per game	7.2	5.7
Steals	483	376
Steals per game	1.7	2.1
Blocks	275	158
Blocks per game	1.0	0.9
FG%	49.7	48.7
3P%	33.2	33.2
FT%	74.1	82.8

Career awards for LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan

The longevity of his career is again evident in his career accolades, as James has an edge in All-NBA and All-Star Game selections. However, Jordan has won two more championships and another league MVP award.

Jordan’s track record is complemented by his 10 goalscoring titles in addition to James, but James is on the short list of players who can win a goalscoring title and an assists title.

The following awards are current as of October 22, 2024.

accolade	James	Jordan
Championships	4	6
MVPs	4	5
Defensive Player of the Year	0	1
Finals MVPs	4	6
All-NBA (First Team)	20 (13)	11 (10)
All-Defense (First Team)	6 (5)	9 (9)
All Star	20	14
Achieve titles	1	10
Supports titles	1	0
Steals title	0	3