LeBron James vs Michael Jordan stats: comparing regular season, playoff and NBA finals
All-time stats of LeBron James and Michael Jordan compared
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Michael Jordan and LeBron James are at the top of most lists when it comes to NBA history’s greatest players, which has been a topic of much controversy among basketball fans and commentators. Sports fans will vigorously discuss each players ability, taking into account their unique skill sets, playing styles, and overall impact on the game. The stats of these two legends can be used to get a better understanding.
In this article, the regular season, postseason, and NBA finals statistics of LeBron James and Michael Jordan will be compared to discover who performs better overall.
Related: Lebron James is the G.O.A.T and not Michael Jordon: Alex Caruso
Regular Season Stats
Michael Jordan and LeBron James are neck-to-neck in terms of regular-season stats. In comparison to Jordan’s 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists a game, James has averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. Yet it’s crucial to remember that Jordan played in a time when the defense was prioritized over the offense. In contrast, James plays in a more free-flowing offensive era.
Jordan is slightly behind James in terms of shooting percentages, with a career field goal percentage of 49.7% to 50.5%. In addition, the forward also has a better career three-point shooting percentage (34.4 to 32.7% for Jordan).
| Total | Jordan | LeBron |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 30.1 | 27.2 |
| Rebounds | 6.2 | 7.5 |
| Assists | 5.3 | 7.3 |
| Steals | 2.3 | 1.5 |
| Blocks | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.7 | 3.5 |
| Minutes | 38.3 | 38.1 |
| FG % | 49.7 | 50.5 |
| 3P % | 32.7 | 34.4 |
| FT % | 83.5 | 73.5 |
| Total | Jordan | LeBron |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 1,072 | 1,413 |
| Points | 32,292 | 38,450 |
| Rebounds | 6,672 | 10,606 |
| Assists | 5,633 | 10,371 |
| Steals | 2,514 | 2,180 |
| Blocks | 893 | 1,067 |
| Turnovers | 2,924 | 4,935 |
| Minutes | 41,011 | 53,834 |
Playoff Stats
Michael Jordan outperforms LeBron James in terms of postseason stats. In the playoffs, James has averaged 28.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, while Jordan has averaged 33.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. Jordan’s ability to score is renowned, and his 33.4 points per game average throughout the NBA playoffs is the highest ever.
Jordan is slightly behind James when it comes to the field goal percentage in the postseason. James has a field goal percentage of 49.5%, to Jordan’s 48.7%. At a career average of 33.2%, Jordan’s three-point shooting in the postseason is marginally lower than James’ 33.7%.
| Total | Jordan | LeBron |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 33.4 | 28.7 |
| Rebounds | 6.4 | 9.0 |
| Assists | 5.7 | 7.2 |
| Steals | 2.1 | 1.7 |
| Blocks | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Turnovers | 3.1 | 3.7 |
| Minutes | 41.8 | 41.5 |
| FG% | 48.7 | 49.5 |
| 3P% | 33.2 | 33.7 |
| FT% | 82.8 | 74.0 |
| Total | Jordan | LeBron |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 179 | 266 |
| Points | 5,987 | 7,631 |
| Rebounds | 1,152 | 2,391 |
| Assists | 1,022 | 1,919 |
| Steals | 376 | 454 |
| Blocks | 158 | 252 |
| Turnovers | 546 | 975 |
| Minutes | 7,474 | 11,035 |
NBA Finals Stats
In terms of NBA Finals numbers, LeBron James once again falls short of Michael Jordan. Compared to Jordan’s 33.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in the NBA Finals, James has averaged 28.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. While the stats highlights Jordan’s incredible scoring ability, it also highlights James’ overall impact on the game.
Jordan set an NBA Finals record and had the greatest scoring average in NBA Finals history, averaging 33.6 points per game. James has shot more effectively than Jordan in the NBA Finals. James’ field goal percentage is 48.4% as opposed to Jordan’s 48.1%. Jordan’s three-point shooting in the NBA Finals is just slightly better than James’, with the former having a career average of 36.8% to the latter’s 35.2%.
| Total | Jordan | James |
| GP | 35 | 55 |
| PPG | 33.6 | 28.4 |
| MPG | 43.0 | 42.5 |
| RPG | 6.0 | 10.2 |
| APG | 6.0 | 7.8 |
| SPG | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| BPG | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| TPG | 2.8 | 3.9 |
| FGM | 12.5 | 10.7 |
| FGA | 26.0 | 22.1 |
| Total | Jordan | LeBron |
| FG% | 48.1 | 48.4 |
| 3PM | 1.2 | 1.8 |
| 3PA | 3.3 | 5.2 |
| 3P% | 36.8 | 35.2 |
| FTM | 7.4 | 5.2 |
| FTA | 9.1 | 7.1 |
| FT% | 80.6 | 73.1 |
| MIN | 1,506 | 2,337 |
| PTS | 1,176 | 1,562 |
| REB | 211 | 561 |
| AST | 209 | 430 |
| STL | 62 | 93 |
| BLK | 23 | 46 |
| TOV | 99 | 217 |
| PF | 103 | 130 |
The Verdict
LeBron James and Michael Jordan are both obviously tremendously good basketball players, but it is tough to determine who is the superior player based purely on their stats. The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and opinion despite the fact that both players have great regular season, postseason, and NBA Finals numbers.
Although statistics might be a valuable tool for comparing individuals, they do not fully explain who the best players of all time are. The overall impact in a game cannot just be determined by these mere stats. The eye test and several underlying stats can definitely paint a better picture.
Who has better stats than Michael Jordan?
Many players have more impressive stats than Michael Jordan in specific categories, such as Wilt Chamberlain with his outstanding scoring and rebounding records, Karl Malone for his all-time high in points scored, and Jason Kidd for his high assists and steals totals. Nonetheless, because of his all-around abilities, clutch performances, and influence on the game, many fans continue to regard Michael Jordan as the best basketball player to ever play the sport.
Who has better stats than LeBron James?
It is difficult to compare players from different positions and eras; nonetheless, the following individuals are widely recognised as having outperformed LeBron James in several areas.
Magic Johnson: Johnson, regarded as one of the finest point guards of all time, is renowned for his excellent passing ability. He has a better career field goal percentage (52.0 vs. 50.4%) and averages more assists per game than James (11.2 vs. 7.4).
Charles Barkley: In the 1990s, he was a tremendous power forward noted for his ability to score and grab rebounds. He has a greater career rebounding average (11.7 to 7.4) and a higher career field goal percentage (54.0% to 50.4%) than James.
Stephen Curry: Curry is a highly effective three-point shooter and is recognized as one of the best shooters in NBA history. Curry has a higher career three-point percentage when compared to James (43.3% vs. 34.5%) and is the league leader in all-time made threes.
Who’s The GOAT, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James?
LeBron James and Michael Jordan are regularly mentioned in discussions about who is the “GOAT,” or greatest basketball player of all time. Both camps have valid arguments, and the conclusion ultimately comes down to personal opinion and the criteria used to establish a player’s greatness.
Although statistics can be useful when comparing players, they do not give the whole picture. It is ultimately up to each individual fan to decide who they think is the greatest player of all time because the influence that both LeBron James and Michael Jordan have had on the game of basketball extends far beyond these stats.
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Abhinav Singh Tomar
(58 Articles Published)