Crown Jewels

Sometimes I wonder if we’re amidst greatness. Are we watching the best basketball player ever to live play through his young days? Can someone be better than Michael? Or are we just falling for the ESPN hype machine?

We’ve got a 21-year-old in LeBron James that has banked several “youngest player” awards. He’s also accomplished things only the elite have been able to do - one of just five players in NBA history to average over 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a season (joining Larry Bird, Jordan, Oscar Robertson and John Havlicek) to name but one shiny accomplishment. All this before his peak.

Even if he called Michael “the black Jesus” on David Letterman a while ago, there’s just this feeling inside me that says he’ll never be better than Jordan. If there was a last supper for NBA players when it’s all said and done, ‘Bron may be at the table, but he isn’t sitting in the real King’s chair, you know? I’m aware there have been several players who have been pegged as “The Next One” only to fail so it’s easy to say James won’t do it. I just don’t think #23 has it in him to one-up the real #23. And while we’re on it, is the NBA ever going to retire Michael’s number? And where did LeBron get the watermelons to put it on his back?

There was something that happened a couple weeks ago that made me think about James’ legacy. ‘Bron dined with billionaire Warren Buffett in Nebraska. The King has said before one of his goals is to become the world’s richest person. Now that’s fine and everything. You want the dough, go get it; even if you have all the athletic ability in the world, you probably want to spend your time doing other things. You can’t possibly devote all your time and efforts to training, studying the game and becoming a better basketball player. Just ask the highly gifted, highly unmotivated, Vince Carter. Oh, SNAP!

If you want the real difference between Michael and LeBron, it’s this: their desire to become the best basketball player in the world. Don’t get me wrong, James has heart. But no one’s drive compares to that in your face, slap you around type swagger His Airness lived by. The man was special – I don’t know if you’ll ever see that obsession to be the greatest again. Players have other agendas now. LeBron wants to unseat Michael and be the richest person on the planet? A man can only do so much. If he pulls it off, more power to him, but Jordan was never money hungry. His brand fed upon itself as he became larger than life and he made ridiculous amounts of cake because of it, but his love was basketball. He wanted nothing but to be the world’s greatest.

A lot of what makes a solid player is natural talents and smarts but so much of it is heart and desire. We know defense is all about hard work. Check out the defensive stats of these two ballers, Jordan: Defensive Player of the Year in 1988; Nine-time All-Defensive First Team. James: not so much. The way LeBron plays D, I can never see him getting his way on to an All-Defensive First Team despite having the tools to do so. What I’m getting at is the infatuation of these superstars to be on top lives on two very different levels. And if that stays status quo, the winner of the “greatest ever” arguments won’t have to change either.

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By Tas Melas at 12:59 am on 10.02.2006 — Tags: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Superstars

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14 Responses to “Crown Jewels”

  1. milosh at 11:55 am on 10.02.2006

    richest man in the world.. wtf for?

    he has the tools to be the greatest in the world… better than jordan? yes maybe.. but is his head screwed on right? it doesnt sound like it!

  2. jeffpotts77 at 11:58 am on 10.02.2006

    Jordan was indeed money hungry. Enough to

    In 1990, America watched a neck-and-neck North Carolina Senate race that was as close to a morality play as an election gets. Republican incumbent Jesse Helms, a spiteful right-winger and a barely reconstructed segregationist, was running a racially tinged campaign against the up-and-coming black mayor of Charlotte, Democrat Harvey Gantt. It was clear for weeks leading up to the election that the race would turn on a narrow margin, and it occurred to Gantt’s backers that a certain beloved native of the state could make a huge impact on the race with a single quote or a brief photo op. So they approached Michael Jordan. Declining to get involved, Jordan offered this explanation: “Republicans buy sneakers too.”

  3. Jack at 12:45 pm on 10.02.2006

    I agree, the work ethic of Jordan was what made him the best, at offense, defense, everything. James doesn’t have this kind of work ethic, obviously, or he would have developed a jump shot and some defense after 3 years in the league. This can probably be attributed to the fact that LeBron didn’t go to college, where Jordan molded his game and only refined it in the NBA.

  4. Settons at 1:01 pm on 10.02.2006

    Great article Tas! Well said!

  5. WWH Mustaine at 2:40 pm on 10.02.2006

    “I agree, the work ethic of Jordan was what made him the best, at offense, defense, everything. James doesn’t have this kind of work ethic, obviously, or he would have developed a jump shot and some defense after 3 years in the league. This can probably be attributed to the fact that LeBron didn’t go to college, where Jordan molded his game and only refined it in the NBA.”

    Disagree. Jordan didn’t have a jumper until he had been in the league for a few years. Hell, when he was LeBron’s age, he had no range at all.

    I also disagree that Jordan’s in a class by himself. There are several players that stake a claim to the “best ever” title (Oscar, Magic, Bird, Wilt, Russell).

    Jordan’s no better than any of those guys.

  6. Sean at 5:43 pm on 10.02.2006

    Jordan was still kind of an asshole, though…

    Anyway, very coherent and interesting post.

  7. SunsGossip at 7:57 pm on 10.02.2006

    Agreed that Jordan had more “heart” than Lebron. You’d have to when you can’t even make Varsity at your high school, right? But the real difference is that MJ was the first one to take his athletic stardom to the commercial level, and for that he’ll always hold the crown. Lebron may end up being a “better” player on the court, and will likely make more money, but these days who cares? All of the players are doing it — it’s just part of our media fabric. When Jordan did it, he was busting into a whole new game.

  8. totoro at 12:02 am on 10.03.2006

    I think Jordan was the best because he had the will to win but it didn’t hurt that he had a good supporting cast. LeBron is a man child and is only getting better. I can’t wait for the season to begin!

  9. The Big Lead » blog » The Roundup: No More Shameless Plugs for PK, More Embarrassing Junk From Albom at 8:22 am on 10.03.2006

    […] This should be good: LeBron James will never be as great as Michael Jordan, and it all boils down to work ethic and early accolades. Release the hounds! (Basketball Jones) […]

  10. J.E. Skeets at 5:05 pm on 10.03.2006

    I should go away more often.

  11. Jeremy at 1:56 pm on 10.05.2006

    “If you want the real difference between Michael and LeBron, it’s this: their desire to become the best basketball player in the world.”

    I remember Jordan retiring from basketball to play baseball at a time where it was undoubtable that he had become the best player in the world. The more important part of that retirement is that he was certainly not the G.O.A.T. at that point. His burning desire was to compete, not necessarily to compete in basketball (as the various gambling, golfing stories atest to). Just wanted to make that quick correction, as I feel it’s unfair to connotate that Jordan spent his life attempting to become the greatest basketball player ever.

  12. manny at 2:27 am on 07.02.2007

    Jordan might be the best ever,but its debatable.How about russell,chamberlain,jabbar,west,havlicek,orthe big o?

  13. manny at 2:29 am on 07.02.2007

    John havlicek would rip todays nba apart,and he shot alot better than james does.

  14. manny at 2:26 am on 10.22.2007

    The nickname of the black jesus was given out years before jordan arrived.It was the other nickame of earl the pearl monroe.

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