LeBron James Becomes Top Playoff Scorer All-Time
LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan as the leading playoff scorer in NBA history. Jordan is considered the best player of all time but James is the best player in the league today. He will be playing in his seventh straight NBA finals against the Golden State Warriors, who are the favorites to beat James and the Cavs.
Is LeBron James now considered the G.O.A.T., the acronym for “greatest of all-time”.
There are quite a few debates surrounding the best player of yesteryear, Michael Jordan, and the best player today, LeBron James. Michael Jordan was always considered the greatest of all time but James just passed a Jordan record of most playoff points. The reasons now support a shift from Jordan to James as whose legacy will reach the plnnacle of NBA greatest player.
For so many years, Jordan was regarded as the best and was irrefutable. It was drilled into the public persona for years because who could be better than Jordan. LeBron James has been neglected for many years but his greatness is finally being acknowledged as the best of all-time. Some reasons to support James in his quest for greatness will be part of NBA history.
Opponent Talent
James is playing in a more talented league and has to go against other great players in Kevin Durant, Westbrook, Curry and others. Defensive rules now allow a hybrid zone defense with man to man but Jordan only had to face man defense which he could dominate. James faced great teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors in the finals many times. Jordan had great opponents and lost to the Detroit Pistons, Bird and the Celtics and Magic Johnson with the Lakers. Jordan got his titles after reaching his potential but the league was in transition when expansion teams were diluting player talent and stretching the NBA competition. Miami, Orlando, Toronto and Charlotte were some of the new franchise teams. The NBA grew and expanded the reach of the NBA but the powerful teams like the Chicago Bulls had no real competition.
The Hype and Pressure
Jordan came out of the University of North Carolina as a very good player and drafted number three — Chicago Bulls were very lucky Jordan did not go one or two. Jordan was good but he did not become “Michael” until about 4 or 5 years in the league. Then his game elevated and he became the best player of his peers.
Detroit had the championship run, the Celtics and Bird were winning rings and the great Lakers teams with Magic were superior.
When LeBron came into the league as an 18 year old fresh out of high school with enormous hype and expectations of a superstar, he excelled right to top of NBA players. He was the most hyped player of any sport to appear on the scene. He was declared “the next Michael Jordan” and the pressure of the world on his shoulders. His transition from high school to the NBA was a remarkable display of confidence and how to endure the pressure. LeBron was an easy number one pick by the Cavs and James was declared the “next Michael Jordan” and he filled those expectations by a country mile.
