LeBron James has major hidden edge vs Michael Jordan and gives final answer in GOAT debate

LeBron James is still close to his athletic prime at 41-years-old.

Michael Jordan also celebrated his 40th birthday while still playing in the NBA.

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LeBron knows he can’t shake Jordan debate

But there’s only one GOAT when the late careers of both basketball legends are compared.

“I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different,” James told ESPN. “I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did. He looked for the shot.

“There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his, but s*** he was f***ing great. We’re both great. We’re both great basketball players.”

Despite being The King of basketball, James will never be able to match Jordan’s perfect 6-0 record in the NBA Finals.

Yet MJ will never be able to play 23 seasons in The Association, or play on the Los Angeles Lakers with his son, Bronny, and Luka Doncic.

“People will really rather you not make the playoffs or lose in the first round than to lose in the Finals, which is crazy to me,” James told ESPN.

“And I almost feel like, is it because it’s me? Everybody has to say something about my career: ‘Oh, well, he made eight straight Finals, but he was only able to win three.’ ‘He’s the leading scorer in NBA history, but he’s played 23 years.’ “

One big factor gives crown to The King

James also held a clear late-career statistical edge as he turned 40, which was followed by The King becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 career points.

James topped Jordan in average points, rebounds, assists, field-goal and 3-point percentage when both were playing at the same age.

In addition, James was coming off a gold medal with Team USA in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

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Jordan’s Washington Wizards were 25-27 when His Royal Airness turned 40.

James’ injury-plagued Lakers held a 3-1 advantage over the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs as The King was 41.

“The details of winning matter to him (James),” Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said.

“I just wish that I could have had all of our young players watch him in the team meetings, every locker room and film session.

“Every franchise is saying the same thing: ‘You need to communicate. You need to be present in these sessions.’ And LeBron is not fatigued at all in terms of preparation and being involved and all of that.”

Air Jordan flew away at his peak

Air Jordan retired three times from the NBA: Once to play Minor League Baseball, a second time to leave the Chicago Bulls, and a final retirement with the Washington Wizards in 2003.

Comparing Greatness

Michael Jordan at 40: 20 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 37 minutes, 44.5 FG %, 82.1 FT%, 29.1 3P %

LeBron James at 41: 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals 33.2 minutes, 51.5 FG %, 73.7 FT %, 31.7 3P %

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“Basketball has been my life,” Jordan said.

“No way you would ever have come in contact with me without the game of basketball. No way would I have been in contact with a lot of other people without the game of basketball.

“It gave me an outlet. It gave me a chance to experience life all over the world, not just here in the (United) States.”

While James has referred to himself as the GOAT, the overall debate normally tips toward Jordan.

He never lost in the Finals.

He never joined a super team just to win a championship.

And while James is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, Jordan’s 30.1 career scoring average, five NBA MVPs and nine All-Defensive Team selections highlight his legendary intensity.

LeBron grew up dreaming of Jordan

“I never thought that I could be him, but I dreamed of the opportunity to live in the shoes that he lived in,” James told ESPN.

“I dreamed of being able to be in a big game and hit a game winner as the clock went down. I dreamed of having my own sneaker. I dreamed of flying through the air like him.”

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The King’s biggest edge over MJ is his unparalleled longevity.

At 41, James is better and more dominant than Jordan was near the same age.

“I think in the case of LeBron, there’s a mental aspect of it as well,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver, reacting to James turning 40.

“I think all of us know that, in addition to keeping in tip-top shape physically, he works a lot on his mind.

“And that ability, over having played that many years in the league, to stay motivated, to maintain a level of concentration, maintain a level of motivation … he’s amazing to watch.” 

But the numbers are closer than one might think.

Jordan’s Wizards era wasn’t that bad

Jordan began his final NBA season at 39, then turned 40 on February 17 in 2003.

He scored 39 points on 13-of-22 shooting at Madison Square Garden just 20 days later.

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As Jordan watched his 39th year evolve into the big 40, he averaged 20 points with 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 82 games (67 starts).

While the Wizards finished 37-45 under Doug Collins and failed to make the playoffs, Jordan shot 44.5 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the line.

His numbers were far below his career averages.

But Jordan was an All-Star with Washington in his final season and received a three-minute standing ovation at his last NBA game.

Not even the greats last forever

“It hits me that I am not going to be in a uniform anymore, and that’s not a terrible feeling,” Jordan said.

“It’s not terrible. It’s something that I have come to grips with and it’s time.”

“I think the fans here were superb in the way that they treated him,” Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson added.

To many, Jordan will always be the GOAT.

But as The King approaches his final NBA game and basketball retirement, James has Jordan beat when it comes to beating Father Time on the hardwood.

“We play in different eras,” Jordan said in 2020. “He’s an unbelievable player.”

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