Jordan. Kobe. Lebron. The debate stirs around the NBA melting pot from time to time, but what’s the deal with the argument?
According to many, there is no argument. It’s Michael Jordan and everybody else. And rightfully so, as the face of basketball who won 6 NBA championships took the league to a whole new level, and is the Wayne Gretzky of the NBA (Sorry, selfish hockey promotion). Michael was a 14-time NBA All-Star, 10-time All-NBA First Team, and 5-time NBA Most Valuable Player. Those are just a few of many accolades for MJ.
As great as Mike was for as long as he was, there’s no debating what he did for the sport. Solely responsible for spreading the fandom overseas, the league wouldn’t be the multi-billion dollar corporation that is today without Jordan. But Michael has been out of the league since 2003, and the torch has been passed to Kobe, and it will soon be officially passed on the Lebron. Some might say that the torch is already in Lebron’s hands, but with four more rings than James and a stellar career to hang his hat on, Kobe will deservedly so have the reins until he hangs up the sneakers.
Believe it or not, there was a life of basketball before Michael. Wilt, Bird, Magic, and Kareem are just a few to name that helped build what the NBA is today, but then came along a guy from Brooklyn that changed everything. Mike won six NBA championships, and amazingly won the Finals MVP every single one of those years. He averaged 30 PPG and dominated the court for nearly 20 years.
As we move from superstar to superstar after the Jordan era, even after Lebron and Kobe are long gone, will we ever move on from Michael Jordan? The way that Mike won, and what he did for the game on and off the court, he’ll be hard to top. Right now, we see his competition in Kobe being made clear cut as his former head coach Phil Jackson recently said. “One of the biggest differences between the two stars from my perspective was Michael’s superior skills as a leader,” Jackson wrote. “Though at times he could be hard on his teammates, Michael was masterful at controlling the emotional climate of the team with the power of his presence. Kobe had a long way to go before he could make that claim. He talked a good game, but he’d yet to experience the cold truth of leadership in his bones, as Michael had.”
But at least Kobe is in the discussion. That’s more than many basketball fans can say for Lebron James. Having only won one title, and likely in competition for more in the next couple years while the Big 3 Era lasts as long as it can before either Lebron opts out, or cap issues restrict them from staying together, many believe that it will take quite a bit for Lebron to belong in the debate. You can almost already sense what so many people will say after Lebron’s career is in the books. “The Mercenary Man”, as Lebron could be known when it’s all said and done. Not being able to break through in terms of Championships with the Cavs in his first seven seasons in the league, Lebron jumped ship to win rings with the Miami Heat. He’s won one, and is far from reaching Kobe or Michael.
But do not be surprised if Lebron is a serious contender to Micahel in the argument when his career is a thing of the past. At age 28, he’s entering his prime and that’s scary to think about having seen what whole different planet he’s already on in the NBA today. He’ll finish with multiple championships whether that be with the Heat or with another team he might be with when he likely opts out in 2014, and he’ll be considered one of the greatest ever. But will he end up better than the great Michael Jordan? It’s a legit possibility. Even you die hard Jordan followers, don’t count out Lebron to end up as numero uno.
Anthony Rodriguez
Anthony is the Founder, Administrator, Editor and Publisher of Lightning Rod Sports. Originally from California, Anthony has been raised in the Rocky Mountains and Denver area for most of his life. Anthony works with the Emmy-winning student-run T.V. newscast at MSU Denver, The Met Report, as the Assistant General Manager, formerly the Sports Producer, as well as Lead Anchor and Production Assistant. He is currently the Play-by-Play Announcer, Color Commentator, and Production Assistant for the Metro State Broadcast Network, and calls games for Metro State soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball as a “Voice of the Roadrunners.” In addition to that work with the Metro State Broadcast Network, Anthony also hosts the monthly 30-minute magazine show called "The Roadrunner Review" which airs on Altitude Sports and Entertainment. He hosts the bi-weekly "KMet Sports Show" on KMET Radio at MyMetMedia.com/KMETSportsShow. He is also the Founder, Administrator, Editor, and Columnist for his own Denver Sports website, LightningRodSports.com. Anthony is also part of the Social Media team at Examiner.com, and has worked with the Altitude Radio Network for the Avalanche and Nuggets. Anthony is a former Producer for Mile High Sports Radio, as well as a former Sports-Talk show host on the LightningRod Radio Network.
