The NBA, like any other professional league, has evolved. So, the kind of players and the pattern of dominance around the league have changed too. However, that fact doesn’t deter fans from making GOAT comparisons between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. This is a debate that has been raging among old heads who support MJ and newer-era fans who have witnessed the rise of LeBron.

However, what adds fuel to these fiery conversations is when NBA players themselves take sides. More recently, Charles Barkley served as that eyewitness testifying to Jordan’s supremacy over LBJ in the latest episode of the massively popular ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe.  “Michael and Kobe will kill you. LeBron’s a nice guy. If they played against their sister, she gonna get her a** kicked. LeBron like..won’t gonna beat up his sister,” said Chuck.

via Imago

While Barkley did admit, “LeBron James is the only one right away,” comparing him to other players who came into the league right after high school, like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett. In the end, Sir Charles appreciated Bron, for never getting into trouble in an era where people have cell phones. In addition to that, he also conceded that James exceeded any expectations people had before entering the league.

Still, is the former MVP right about LeBron not being a killer? Is it just King James’ nice guy attitude that’s behind this perspective or are his numerous unsuccessful playoff stints the actual reason? The answers lie within the numbers.

Comparing Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the playoffs

MJ and Bron’s playoff comparisons go beyond just the receptive numbers that are usually thrown around in these debates. While people speaking against LeBron are quick to point out Michael’s 6-0 in the finals, the fact is deeper than that. His Airness won most of his championships, in a roster that had two other Hall of Famers. LeBron did the same when he was with the Miami Heat and then did the same in Los Angeles.

However, reaching 10 finals is not an easy feat. Despite winning only four championships where LeBron edges past Michael a bit, even today, at the age of 39, fans expect him to get another ring. From his performances against the Denver Nuggets, it was clear that winning a championship could have been a real possibility under a better roster.  Numbers do put Jordan ahead in points slightly, but LeBron dominated other stat categories. Not to mention that he played more games than Jordan 420, to be precise.