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Death, taxes and Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James in the GOAT debate. Much like cockroaches in a nuclear blast, it seems nothing will be able to kill this one. Current NBA players just voted for Michael Jordan in an anonymous poll, narrowly edging out LeBron James. Everyone from your barber to podcasters to your second cousin has an opinion on the matter, including comedian Aries Spears.
Spears tweeted his thoughts, shutting down LeBron James and showing why Michael Jordan is his GOAT.
Spears said Jordan is better due to his playoff success. It's the easiest argument to make when comparing the two basketball legends considering Jordan won six titles and James has four.
“Ya’ll put LeBron over him because you say he went to 10 straight finals, but he finished 4-6, which is a losing record," Spears said. "And now it looks like he may never win another championship before he retires, which is pretty soon because father time is tapping him on the shoulder.”
Spears was critical of James stans (fans). He thinks their argument of Michael Jordan's early playoff losses is not as important as how Jordan finished his career.
“Ya’ll give Michael Jordan all this sh*t because he got knocked out of the playoffs early, but yet he finished his career in Chicago 6-0, perfect in the Finals," Spears said. "He never had a Game 7 in the Finals. Never lost. Six finals MVP’s. Six championships. So LeBron started out better than Michael, but (Jordan) finished better than him.”
Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: NBA Finals records
Most everyone knows Michael Jordan was undefeated in his NBA Finals appearances. He went 6-0 with the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan missed the finals in his first six seasons. He then led the Bulls to a three-peat from 1990-93. Jordan famously retired after his third title, missing the next season and most of the 1994-95 season.
When Jordan returned to Chicago in full force the following season, he reminded everyone why he was the greatest basketball player in the world. Jordan led Chicago to another three-peat, taking the titles in 1996, 97 and 98.
Jordan then hung it up again after lifting his sixth championship. He later returned in 2001 for two seasons with the Washington Wizards when he was a part owner of the team.
LeBron James has a 4-6 record in the NBA Finals. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007 before losing to the San Antonio Spurs.
Four seasons later, James began his dominant run. When James moved to the Miami Heat, he took the team to four straight finals. They went 2-2 in those four appearances. James and the Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in a stunning upset in 2011 before winning two straight titles.
James then returned to Cleveland. He took the Cavs to four straight finals, completing a successive eight-year run where he ended in the finals.
James then capped off his finals career by winning a title with a third franchise. In the 2020 playoff bubble, James took the LA Lakers to the championship, the fourth of his career. He has not made the finals since.
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
