Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Who Won More NBA Awards And Accolades?
By taking into account total individual and team accolades during both the regular season and playoffs, here is the conclusion that can be drawn from the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
Credit: Fadeaway World
LeBron James has seriously thrown his name into the GOAT conversation after breaking the all-time scoring record this season, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his 20th NBA season. For two decades in a row, LeBron has been one of the most talented players in the world with both physical and mental gifts that allow him to dominate the game. Ever since his rookie season, he was being compared to the likes of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and he has not disappointed anybody. In many ways, he has exceeded expectations in what he has accomplished because nobody could have predicted The King would end up the all-time scoring leader.
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But how does he compare to Michael Jordan, widely considered the greatest player of all time? Jordan is the man whom every player fights to eclipse because he is widely considered the best basketball player ever. The superstar shooting guard accomplished everything on a team and individual level and is the undisputed face of the 1990s decade. What Jordan has meant to the NBA is simply surreal, because he started a new trend of sneakers, style, and play that every player has tried to mimic. Jordan only played 15 seasons in the NBA, however, and has seasons that include a critical injury and seasons following retirement phases, so he might not have had the time to accomplish what James has over two decades. Or is that just a farce?
It is time to compare the achievements and awards of Michael Jordan and LeBron James because there is only one GOAT. We already saw how one comparison turned out between the two when stats and major categories were taken into account, but let’s go a little further. By taking into account total individual and team accolades during both the regular season and playoffs, here is the conclusion that can be drawn from the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
NBA Championships
Michael Jordan - 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
LeBron James - 4 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
Michael Jordan won six NBA titles through two different three-peats with the Chicago Bulls. That is an incredible way to start the comparison there because capturing 6 titles as the best player on the team is rare and very hard to achieve. Jordan was lucky to play under Phil Jackson and also with other all-time great players including Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, but the shooting guard was the undisputed main reason why the Bulls were so dominant. Michael’s superstardom on the court was spectacular, going 6-0 in the NBA Finals by taking out other elite stars including Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, and Gary Payton among others.
It took a while for The King to win a championship, but he got it done once he took his talents to South Beach. LeBron James dominated the court with the Miami Heat, going back-to-back in the 2012 and 2013 seasons as he took out the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. In 2016, James got the job done against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and in 2020, got it done with the Los Angeles Lakers. Overall, James was the best player on his team every time he won a championship which meant The King managed four championships with three different teams. But in the end, six always beats out four and Jordan is the Lord of the Rings in this regard.
NBA Finals MVP
Michael Jordan - 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
LeBron James - 4 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
Every time the Chicago Bulls played a game in the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan took over. The superstar shooting guard was the best player on each of the championship Bulls teams that took down the opposition during the two separate three-peats. His greatest performance in the Finals came in 1993 against Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns when Michael averaged 41.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 6.3 APG to take down the MVP of the league at the time. Michael averaged 33.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 6.0 APG over 35 games in the Finals, none of which came in a Game 7 because he always won before Game 7 even arrived.
LeBron James has 4 Finals MVPs, meaning he was the best player on each of his championship teams. LeBron was the best player in the world for his championships with the Heat, Cavs, and Lakers, and there was never even a debate. Some might argue that Kyrie Irving was the most critical player in 2016 because of his clutch game-winner over Stephen Curry, but not being the team’s closer does not mean James was not the best player on the team. LeBron did well to place himself in positions to succeed with three different teams and deserved all his Finals MVP trophies, although it must be mentioned that six beats out four every time and it will be hard for James to ever come close to what Jordan did in the Finals.
NBA MVP
Michael Jordan - 5 (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
LeBron James - 4 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
Michael Jordan probably deserved more than five MVP awards, but that is still a hefty haul of achievements considering he played in a talented era. The greatest guard to have ever lived, Jordan was a beast on both ends of the floor and deserved all his MVP accolades. Being the greatest scorer in the NBA and winning 10 scoring titles certainly helped his MVP votes every year, because no player could effortlessly get buckets like MJ. As soon as he arrived in the NBA, MJ was in the MVP race and he probably could have had seven MVP awards at least had the award voting been unbiased.
LeBron James was also unlucky not to have more MVP awards because he suffered from being too big and too strong in the NBA year after year. It would have been perceived as a bias to give LeBron the MVP every year, so the likes of Derrick Rose might have stolen some MVP Awards from LeBron. But winning four MVP awards does signify that The King was the best player of his generation, and certainly the greatest player of the 2010s decade. The King will likely retire with only four MVP awards, so once again, he does not have an edge in a major category when compared to the man known as Air Jordan.
NBA All-Star Game MVP
Michael Jordan - 3 (1988, 1996, 1998)
LeBron James - 3 (2006, 2008, 2018)
The All-Star Game MVP award is not weighed as heavily as the MVP or Finals MVP award for obvious reasons, but it is still an impressive achievement for the league’s greatest players. Capturing the All-Star Game MVP essentially means that a player is the best among all All-Star players and put on the best show for the fans in a normally tightly contested game. Jordan won 3 All-Star MVP awards, and they came in a span of 10 years. Jordan’s All-Star Game MVP in 1988 was probably his best, as he dropped 40 points in the game.
LeBron James also has 3 All-Star Game MVP awards, a spectacular achievement. The King had his most recent trophy given to him in the 2018 season when he dropped a solid all-around stat line of 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists against Team Stephen Curry to win the game 148-145. Interestingly, James never scored under 27 points in his three All-star Game MVP moments and he ties up Jordan in this comparison category.
NBA Defensive Player Of The Year
Michael Jordan - 1 (1988)
LeBron James - 0
No doubt about it, Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan deserved the only Defensive Player of the Year Award he won. Michael was part of a dynamic defensive duo with Scottie Pippen that picked offensive players up the entire length of the court once the small forward came into his own as a superstar of his own. But in 1988, Pippen was still a rookie who played 20.9 MPG and averaged 7.9 PPG and 1.2 SPG. It was up to Jordan to dominate both ends of the floor, and he usually made the big defensive plays to seal victories for his team as he posted a league-leading 3.2 SPG and 1.6 BPG.
LeBron James never won a Defensive Player of the Year award, as his best chance came in 2013 when Marc Gasol won the award when the big man posted 1.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG. James averaged 1.7 SPG and 0.9 BPG during the year for the Miami Heat and was by far the most versatile defender in the league. There is no doubt that The King has not been as dominant as Jordan over his career on the defensive end, so no surprise to see the Bulls’ star having the advantage in a defensive category.
NBA Rookie Of The Year
Michael Jordan - 1 (1985)
LeBron James - 1 (2004)
Michael Jordan had arguably the greatest rookie campaign of all time, averaging 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on 51.5% FG and 84.5% FT. Those are spectacular numbers from a 6’6” shooting guard at only 21 years old, and to nobody’s surprise, Jordan managed to make the All-Star Team and win the Rookie of the Year award. Playing all 82 games at 38.3 MPG, Michael Jordan was already the most talented player in the world out of college.
LeBron James also had a spectacular rookie campaign, posting 20.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 41.7% FG and 75.4% FT. The King had all eyes on him because he has to be the most hyped rookie ever, and he did his part by posting 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. James won Rookie of the Year at only 19 years old, which means he has the same accolade that Jordan managed to win.
NBA Scoring Champion
Michael Jordan - 10 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
LeBron James - 1 (2008)
There has never been an offensive player as dominant as Michael Jordan. Wilt Chamberlain managed to win seven scoring titles, score 100 points in a single game, and average 50.4 PPG in a single season. Despite Wilt’s incredible numbers at points during his career, Michael literally had an entire career span of dominant scoring numbers. Jordan won 10 scoring titles and finished his career with a 30.1 PPG scoring average. Armed with an automatic jumper, unstoppable athleticism, and alarming efficiency, Jordan is the greatest scorer ever.
LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, but he is still not the greatest offensive player of all time. The King managed to win only one scoring title, and that came in 2008 when he posted 30.0 PPG on 48.4% FG, 31.5% 3-PT FG, and 71.2% FT. Armed with spectacular physical traits and tremendous finishing ability, James has to be regarded as a top-10 scorer ever although he is not on Jordan’s level and it is by quite a margin.
NBA Assist Leader
Michael Jordan - 0
LeBron James - 1 (2020)
Michael Jordan is one of the most famous gunners of all time, as he won 10 scoring titles and averaged a career 30.1 PPG which ranks first among every NBA player. The shooting guard was always the primary offensive option for the Chicago Bulls, and he could rely on Scottie Pippen to handle playmaking duties. Jordan averaged a career 5.3 APG in his career, so he is not a pushover with his passing, but he isn’t LeBron James.
James is one of the greatest playmakers of all time, and despite being a small forward who is 6’9” and 250 lbs, he managed to lead the NBA in APG once. LeBron averaged a solid 10.2 APG during the 2020 covid-shortened season, as he led the passing aspect for the Los Angeles Lakers while Anthony Davis led the team in scoring during the regular season (26.1 PPG). With 1 assist title to his name, LeBron has an edge over Michael Jordan which could finally benefit The King in this comparison.
NBA Steals Leader
Michael Jordan - 3 (1988, 1990, 1993)
LeBron James - 0
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest defensive players of all time, as he had the physical tools and fundamentals to impact that end of the court every game. The superstar shooting guard was a master at stealing the ball, using his gigantic hands to poke the ball away with ease after pushing offensive players into precarious positions. Mike could also play passing lanes, and he ended with 3 steals titles with a career average of 2.3 SPG. Not to mention, Jordan ranks 3rd all-time in career steals which means he is one of the best at stealing the ball and causing turnovers.
LeBron James has a career average of 1.5 SPG, and while he is excellent at playing passing lanes and kickstarting a one-man fastbreak, he never managed to win a steals title. The King was an excellent defender in his prime, although his impact has greatly waned as he has aged. Despite being a physical specimen with quick hands and feet, James never found himself in a position to lead the league in steals per game.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Michael Jordan - 2 (1987, 1988)
LeBron James - 0
Michael Jordan won back-to-back Dunk Contests when the superstar shooting guard was 23 and 24 years old as a young superstar. The shooting guard beat out Jerome Kersey in the last round, showcasing his air-gliding ability as we began to see the inevitable rise of the most athletic player in the world. In 1988, the man who would go on to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and a scoring title also won the Slam Dunk Contest as his duel with Dominique Wilkins ended with the shooting guard showing off his free-throw line dunk. No doubt, the 1988 Dunk Contest is memorable until this day.
Unbelievably, LeBron James has never competed in a Dunk Contest. There are countless opinions as to why The King never participated, although the consensus opinion is that James never felt he could actually win. LeBron is one of the greatest in-game dunkers ever, and he might lack creativity when it comes to putting on a show with only dunks as the focus. Some might argue that James lacks the guts to compete with the world watching, but regardless of what the reason is, The King never won a Dunk Contest title.
Total Awards And Trophies
Michael Jordan - 37
LeBron James - 18
It is never easy to compare two all-time great players, but Michael Jordan seems to be the better overall player in terms of scoring and defense while LeBron James can influence the game with his playmaking and rebounding at a higher rate. But looking at the achievements in both the regular season and playoffs might settle this debate once and for all. Michael Jordan has an incredible 37 accolades in this comparison compared to LeBron’s 18, which means the Chicago Bulls legend more than doubles what The King has. It is time to delve into the accolades a little deeper now.
Michael Jordan has 13 playoff appearances, as six of them resulted in a Finals berth which gave the shooting guard 6 NBA titles without ever playing in a Game 7. LeBron has managed to make 15 playoff appearances in 20 seasons which is astonishing while making 10 NBA Finals appearances. The biggest argument in favor of LeBron being the GOAT is his ability to carry teams on his back no matter how talented they are. LeBron affects the game in every way, so his four titles and four Finals MVPs are his most significant accolades. Obviously, despite James making more Finals appearances, there is one clear winner when it comes to championships, Finals success, and Finals MVP awards.
Beyond Finals accolades, Jordan has many more regular season awards. He won five MVP awards to LeBron’s four, captured ten scoring titles to LeBron’s one, and even won a Defensive Player of the Year award. Michael also managed to lead the NBA in steals three times and won the Dunk Contest twice while LeBron never accomplished either. Literally, the only advantage James has is the assist title that he won in the 2020 NBA season. To The King’s credit, he shares the same number of All-Star Game MVP awards and won the Rookie of the Year as Jordan did.
Clearly, the regular season and playoff benefit Jordan even if he does not have the longevity achievements that LeBron has (all-time scoring record). A 6-0 Finals record with six rings beats out a 4-6 Finals record with four rings, and MJ seems to be a better player in the playoffs considering his perfection on the brightest stage of them all. If LeBron James manages to win at least two more rings, this conversation might start up again and then it will be time to revisit the comparison. But for now, MJ is in the driver's seat in the GOAT talk and his accolades are far more numerous than LeBron James’. With more than double the number of achievements won, LeBron only has a chance to challenge the GOAT if he somehow ends up retiring with 6 NBA championships and 6 Finals MVP awards.
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