LeBron James vs Michael Jordan: How LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA record but Michael Jordan couldn't

Both Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the two legends of the NBA’s all-time history – however, when it comes to scoring, Michael Jordan is widely considered the better talent compared to LeBron James, who is also one of the greatest players in NBA history. Jordan's career average of 30.1 points per game across 15 seasons surpasses James's average of 27.2 points in 20 seasons. Jordan also had a higher scoring peak, averaging over 37 points per game, while James's highest scoring average is 31.4. However, James has the advantage as a better passer and rebounder, and their defensive abilities are evenly matched. In a clutch-scoring situation, Jordan would likely be the first choice.

Michael Jordan did not challenge for the all-time scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jordan retired roughly 6,000 points behind Abdul-Jabbar, but it was LeBron James who eventually broke the record. James is expected to add even more points to the record, making it virtually unbreakable. This disparity can be explained by a few factors that favored James, including circumstances that did not align for Jordan during his career.

LeBron James has played more seasons than Michael Jordan, giving him an advantage in career numbers. LeBron entered the NBA at 18 while Jordan debuted at 21. LeBron had a physical advantage over a young Jordan and started playing varsity basketball earlier. Jordan missed his age 30 and 31 seasons due to retirement and retired for good at 35, missing two more seasons. If those missed seasons were included, Jordan would likely have set a higher career record.



Jordan's career was before the 3-point revolution, leading to limited 3-pointers made. LeBron James has made over 3 times the number of 3-pointers Jordan did and has scored nearly 5,000 more points from behind the arc. This difference is mainly due to the increase in 3-point attempts by teams in the current NBA compared to Jordan's time. Jordan's 3-point shooting improved slightly between 1994 and 1997 when the NBA shortened the 3-point line to increase offense. This suggests Jordan could have been a better 3-point shooter in a league that favored it.

FAQs:

1. How old is Michael Jordan?
   59-years-old.
2. Where was LeBron James born?
   Ohio, US.