When LeBron James and Michael Jordan both brutally exposed own teammates

Michael Jordan and LeBron James won a combined ten NBA titles, but had their own set of struggles with teammates in the past.

When LeBron James and Michael Jordan both brutally exposed own teammates

LeBron James and Michael Jordan

Lebron James and Michael Jordan are the two best basketball players to ever grace a court. Multiple championships and individual accolades have gone on to cement that notion. But it is not as if they did not have growing pains, especially when their respective teams were not up to the mark.

That is evident as both James and Jordan did not win any titles for at least the first six seasons of their careers. The former won his first with the Miami Heat in his ninth season, whereas the latter led his Chicago Bulls to the first title in his seventh season.

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In those years, both the basketball greats toiled as their respective team’s started to take shape but were still short of reaching the goal. Jordan’s Bulls did not reach the NBA Finals in his first six seasons. But James’ Cleveland Cavaliers did, and he revealed how his motivational tactics helped.

I’ve always loved players that breathe so much confidence into his teammates that make them believe that they’re better than what the f**k they really are. I don’t go to the NBA Finals in 2006 with that team if I’m not able to make them believe they are greater than what they are.

LeBron James said

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar said this to his newest podcast partner Steve Nash. Nash admitted that giving teammates that confidence makes them step up to another level. It also means that LeBron James did not think his then Cleveland Cavaliers teammates were good enough to reach the 2007 NBA Finals without those motivational words working their magic.

Michael Jordan had a similar opinion about his Bulls teammates

Just like the now Los Angeles Lakers superstar, the great Michael Jordan also struggled with the early iterations of his Chicago Bulls. During an interview during the 1992 NBA Finals, Bob Costas asked His Airness about the colossal minutes he was playing. To this Jordan replied.

I don’t think it’s really my minutes. It’s more or less the productivity from other players. Phil (Jackson) looked at every moment possible to give me more minutes. But he felt that with my presence out there, we were really reassured of a game or winning a game, because of the lack of productivity from other players.

Michael Jordan said

Jordan said this despite winning the 1991 NBA title with essentially the same players. This interview was likely after Game 4 of the 1992 NBA Finals. It is possible that Jordan’s thought process was clouded after the Portland Trail Blazers came back to level the series at 2-2.

Even if he was not, it shows what was going through his mind. He was logging 38.8 minutes that season. That is a massive number of minutes for any player to play. Bring in all the postseason games and it was bound to take a toll. Jordan just did not want the toll to impact his drive to win another title, instead was calling out his teammates to step up.

LeBron James and Michael Jordan’s motivating methods helped win titles

Michael Jordan might have seemingly thrown his teammates under the bus. But would not win those titles without, firstly, leading by example. Secondly, his demand for them to step up also worked their part. The inputs of other players are necessary to win titles.

The same goes for LeBron James. Even though he had other stars around him, they do need some motivation to push through and win. Motivation is one of the primary jobs of a head coach. But on the floor or in personal conversations, the leading superstar sets the tone.

Without those conversations, the two greats possibly would not have a combined ten NBA titles. In team sports, no matter how great their superstars are, the net result is always a combination of all players involved.