T-Mac on why Michael Jordan is better than LeBron James

[Johnny32]

Game 1 of the 2018 finals should not be typed about without mentioning the rig job by the refs down the stretch to certify a victory over LeBron 1v8. Multiple obvious no calls on LeBron. Charges changed to blocking fouls for gsw/kd. It was pathetic and embarrassing.

[FireDavidKahn]

TMac was an overrated loser who never got out of the first round

[RogueBorg]

And to the guy that said just call a time out, that is exactly the reason he left. He shouldn't have to do EVERYTHING. Imagine the confusion. It's like you guys expect him to be this absolutely flawless player. It's crazy.

I expect him to know how many timeouts they had left. Is that too much to ask?

[LAL]

Tracy McGrady: “I think if you want to start a team, I’m going to go with LeBron because of him being able to take lesser talent and elevate those guys… Because of his pass-first mentality, being able to elevate his team in terms of their style of play. Mike is going out there trying to get 30 and 40 points. He’s not looking to make his team better.”

Cry moar, limp dick.

He wants to keep his job in the media.

The reality is MJ (and Kobe) was better at every single thing basketball, lebron lacks the fundamentals and chases greatness with stats. Being a better clutch player isn't specual because thousands are or were better in the clutch than lecoward.

[rmt]

Lol, this does kind of make T-Mac look like a moron. The ultimate measure of a player's greatness is choosing them first to build your team around. If you're openly admitting that you would take Lebron first, that means you think he's better.

Having said that, I definitely would not pick Lebron over MJ to start my team around. That's not a knock on Lebron, there's just nobody that's getting picked ahead of MJ.

I think there's a definite distinction between who one picks to build your team around than GOAT. The first is more unselfish, gets along better with team mates, sacrifices for the team - so I would pick players more like Duncan, Magic, Russell and yes, even Lebron. But when it comes to GOAT, there's no one other than MJ for me (even though I hated him) - MJ had that killer/winner instinct and instilled that fear that Lebron does not.

So, I would say that the 2 quotes from TMac are not incompatible.

[Hey Yo]

He wants to keep his job in the media.

The reality is MJ (and Kobe) was better at every single thing basketball, lebron lacks the fundamentals and chases greatness with stats. Being a better clutch player isn't specual because thousands are or were better in the clutch than lecoward.

poor Kobe stan

[LAL]

poor Kobe stan

You can always compare lebron with those triple double machines (jokic, westbrook, giannis, luka,..) if want to go with stats... but even those guys are more fundamentally sound then lebron (tied with wesbrook who also is more of a football type guy). I don't know why you argue this because he chose to create superteams and cheat because he doesn't have it.

[Hey Yo]

Kobe forced his way to a contender and premier franchise before the draft even started.

Signing with a 19 win team >>>>> telling all teams not named the Lakers "don't draft me, I won't sign."

[LAL]

Lakers haven't won a title in 9 years in 1997, he decided he wanted to build a legacy with a legendary and his favorite team growing up even tough he knew the competition there would have been ruthless instead of simply stat padding from day one if he went to the hornets. We know he had all the skills and tools to average at least 25 per game his rookie season. That's what lecoward did.

[1987_Lakers]

Here are Kobe's finals stats

2000 - 15.6 ppg | 39 fg%

2001 - 24 ppg | 41.5 fg% | 50 TS%

2002 - 27 ppg | 51 fg% | 62 TS%

2004 - 23 ppg | 38 fg% | 46 TS%

2008 - 26 ppg | 40.1 fg% | 50.5 TS%

2009 - 32 ppg | 43 fg% | 52.5 TS%

2010 - 29 ppg | 40.1 fg% | 52.8 TS%



Here are Kobe's game seven stats.

44.2 MPG

22.2 points

FG 38.9%

FT 67.3%

8 RPG

5 APG

1 SPG

1.3 BPG





Here are Kobe's stats when facing elimination.



22.3 PPG

5.8 RPG


3.5 APG

1.3 SPG

1.3 BPG

on a 50.3 TS

and his teams went 9-10 in those games.

[LAL]

Here are Kobe's finals stats

2000 - 15.6 ppg | 39 fg%

2001 - 24 ppg | 41.5 fg% | 50 TS%

2002 - 27 ppg | 51 fg% | 62 TS%

2004 - 23 ppg | 38 fg% | 46 TS%

2008 - 26 ppg | 40.1 fg% | 50.5 TS%

2009 - 32 ppg | 43 fg% | 52.5 TS%

2010 - 29 ppg | 40.1 fg% | 52.8 TS%



Here are Kobe's game seven stats.

44.2 MPG

22.2 points

FG 38.9%

FT 67.3%

8 RPG

5 APG

1 SPG

1.3 BPG





Here are Kobe's stats when facing elimination.



22.3 PPG

5.8 RPG


3.5 APG

1.3 SPG

1.3 BPG

on a 50.3 TS

and his teams went 9-10 in those games.

Oh i agree, LeCoward is the king of STATS just like a lot of modern players. Amazing stuff.

[SATAN]

poor Kobe stan

[Full Court]

Tracy McGrady: “I think if you want to start a team, I’m going to go with LeBron because of him being able to take lesser talent and elevate those guys… Because of his pass-first mentality, being able to elevate his team in terms of their style of play. Mike is going out there trying to get 30 and 40 points. He’s not looking to make his team better.”

Cry moar, limp dick.

Jordan: Still causing bitch fits 20 years after retiring.

GOAT.

[3ba11]

The stats back up T-Mac as Lebron averages 5 ppg in the 4th quarter of the Finals, while old MJ averaged 10 ppg in 97' and 98' Finals (the years we have data for)

Furthermore, the stats on bballref and stats.nba.com show the following:

Down the stretch of tight games, aka clutch-time (last 5 within 5), Lebron attempted 3.0 attempts per game on 40% for his playoff career (2006-2018), while old MJ attempted 3.6 on 48% in 97' and 98' Playoffs - that's 20% greater clutch burden on far superior efficiency and MUCH lower turnovers.

Again, it's a fake debate

[Baller234]

I think there's a definite distinction between who one picks to build your team around than GOAT. The first is more unselfish, gets along better with team mates, sacrifices for the team - so I would pick players more like Duncan, Magic, Russell and yes, even Lebron. But when it comes to GOAT, there's no one other than MJ for me (even though I hated him) - MJ had that killer/winner instinct and instilled that fear that Lebron does not.

So, I would say that the 2 quotes from TMac are not incompatible.

There is no distinction. The objective is to win. If you believe that Player A gives your team a better chance to win than Player B, that means:

- You believe Player A is better than Player B
- You are obligated to pick Player A before Player B in a draft

If McGrady is being honest in saying he would draft Lebron ahead of anyone else to build his team around, then yes he is all but admitting that he thinks Lebron is the greatest of all time. It's the same thing.

Personally I just don't see the argument. MJ's greatness was truly one of a kind.