LeBron James, Michael Jordan Can Never Be Compared, Pippen Explains Why

The LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate is one that unlikely to ever stop until another player emerges and eclipses them both in the future. The two are arguably among the best in the history of the NBA, but opinions vary when the question arises as to who among the two is the GOAT – Greatest of All Time.

James is set to embark on his 15th NBA All-Star appearance and as per the statistics in terms of scoring and assists is on par or better than Jordan in most aspects thus far in his career and is considered the greatest of the current generation.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has also made eight straight NBA Finals and at times almost singlehandedly leading teams to the summit clash. But despite that, he only has three titles to his name thus far – two with the Miami Heat and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jordan, on the other hand, has won every time he took the Chicago Bulls to the NBA Finals. The basketball legend has six championship rings and was the Finals MVP on all occasions, and this ability to step up when it matters, according to former teammate Scotty Pippen, makes him incomparable to James.

Pippen went as far to say that James is not even “what Kobe Bryant was as a player” forget the comparisons to Jordan, who was arguably one of the best clutch players in NBA history. And the former Bulls small forward believes that it is that quality that separates the two greats of the game.

The 53-year-old referred to a recent game, which was mostly against the Boston Celtics, which the Lakers won 129-128 following a buzzer-beating jump shot from Rajon Rondo. In the final seconds, one would expect James to go for the ball and win the game for his team, but it was youngster Brandon Ingram, who made the drive for the basket.

“When I look at LeBron, he’s not what Michael was as a player. He’s not even what Kobe Bryant was as a player,” Pippen, who played against LeBron for four years before retiring in 2008, said in an interview with First Take, as quoted on News.com.au. “So when you talk about trying to compare Michael’s instinct, his ability to take over games, his ability to want to have that last shot … LeBron doesn’t have that gene. I can sit here and say today, I watched LeBron the other night, the game was on the line and he made little or no effort to go after the ball."

“It’s that clutch gene. I’m not taking it away that he doesn’t know how to win, and he’s not willing to have the ball in his hands, but the players that have that clutch gene, they’re going to go get that ball,” the Bulls legend explained.

James is just 210 points behind Jordan in the all-time scoring list and it is almost certain that the Lakers small forward will eclipse the Bulls legend and move into fourth place before the end of the current campaign.