Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: The 15-Year Comparison That Could End The GOAT Debate

#11 Verdict

Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony

When Jordan, who starred for Mr Obama's beloved Chicago Bulls, was among the athletes selected for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the President of the United States presented a take that is indisputable.

"There is a reason you call somebody the Michael Jordan of [their field]," he said. "He is the definition of somebody so good at what they do that everybody recognises it."

Michael Jordan defined what it meant to be a competitor, and what it meant to work the hardest, fight the hardest and beat the best when push came to shove. Several times in his career, he was counted out, and he was said to be done. People debated whether Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley were better than him in 1992 and 1993, and he humbled them on the court with his sheer dominance.

Other Hall of Famers like Jerry Sloan, Karl Malone, John Stockton and David Robinson were unable to win a single NBA title when he was around. What LeBron does on an yearly basis to the Eastern Conference, Jordan did to the entire league.

It didn't matter if Charles Barkley teamed up with 2 other All Stars in Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle, not to mention a ring-chasing sharpshooter in Danny Ainge. It didn't even matter when Chuck then teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler later on.

It didn't matter that the Seattle Supersonics, the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz each had 60+ wins, and the latter two had homecourt in 2 Finals series. It didn't matter that he had the flu, because he couldn't forgive himself for sitting out a pivotal game 5 on the road, so he came out with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and led the Bulls to a decisive victory.

After a point, the only question that remained about Michael Jordan was the manner in which he would get the win, not whether he really would do it.

LeBron James is a great basketball player, and it is clear that he has transcended the game in the complete manner that he dominates it this day. But while LeBron might be a symbol of hype coming true, unwavering consistency and excellence at one's job, Michael Jordan is a beacon of the enduring, undying competitive spirit of mankind. And so for that reason, beyond all the arguments I presented to you in the slideshow before, Jordan is still the Greatest of All Time.