Michael Jordan: How His Airness Stacks Up Against Today’s NBA Stars
In today’s media outlet, Michael Jordan is not only known as the greatest of all time, but the infamous player who is now compared to multiple NBA stars.
Jordan has not only defined what a respected athlete was intended to symbolize, but altered the game of basketball.
Despite a nationwide popularity that no other athlete has attained, the North Carolina University graduate has earned himself a handful of athletes to which he is compared.
Multiple fans and analysts believe there will never be another Jordan clone in the NBA. Still, some believe the theory that there is an athlete currently playing that should be mentioned with Jordan.
Regardless, there’s no doubt that these following current NBA players are amazing, but should they be mentioned in the same conversation as Jordan?
One thing that Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade do have in common is their position.
Both Jordan and Wade were dominant at their respective shooting guard positions throughout their NBA tenure.
Scoring:
Michael Jordan – 30.1 points-per-game.
Dwyane Wade – 25.4 points-per-game.
Michael Jordan – .497 field goal percentage.
Dwyane Wade – .482 field goal percentage.
Michael Jordan – .327 three point percentage.
Dwyane Wade – .289 three point percentage.
Michael Jordan – 5.3 assists-per-game.
Dwyane Wade – 6.6 assists-per-game.
Defense:
Michael Jordan – 6.2 rebounds-per-game.
Dwyane Wade – 4.9 rebounds-per-game.
Clutch factor: Jordan is well known for his clutch abilities. Wade, a former champion, is known for his ability to take over a game, stepping up to the plate.
M.J. was a fearsome defender with tenacious lockdown abilities. Dwyane Wade is not the better of the two, standing two inches shorter than Jordan and being more known for just his prolific scoring.
Kobe Bryant is the player who has been compared to Jordan the longest..
Coming into the league as Jordan was winding down, Bryant has surpassed expectations with flying colors.
But, is he near Jordan’s level?
Scoring:
Michael Jordan – 30.1 points-per-game.
Kobe Bryant – 25.3 points-per-game.
Michael Jordan – .497 field goal percentage.
Kobe Bryant – .455 field goal percentage.
Michael Jordan – .327 three point percentage.
Kobe Bryant – .340 three point percentage.
Michael Jordan – 5.3 assists-per-game.
Kobe Bryant – 4.7 assists-per-game.
Defense:
Michael Jordan – 6.2 rebounds-per-game.
Kobe Bryant – 5.3 rebounds-per-game.
Clutch factor: Bryant is the most clutch player in the NBA. Calm and composed, it seems as if Kobe feeds off high pressure situations. If anything was inherited from Jordan, this would be it.
Kobe Bryant is one of the best players in the NBA, even as his age gets up there. However, he’ll have to take a backseat to Michael Jordan. He just hasn’t taken over games in a manner that Jordan attained.
This is the one. If anyone should be compared to Michael Jordan, LeBron James would be the majority’s first pick.
LeBron James is the most complete player in the NBA. Even without a ring, there is no doubt LeBron will be taking over Kobe’s throne soon enough.
Offense:
Michael Jordan – 30.1 points-per-game.
LeBron James – 27.8 points-per-game.
Michael Jordan – .497 field goal percentage.
LeBron James – .475 field goal percentage.
Michael Jordan – .327 three point percentage.
LeBron James – .329 three point percentage.
Michael Jordan – 5.3 assists-per-game.
LeBron James – 7.0 assists-per-game.
Defense:
Michael Jordan – 6.2 rebounds-per-game.
LeBron James – 7.0 rebounds-per-game.
Clutch factor: Michael Jordan was the most clutch player ever. Hands down. LeBron couldn’t challenge Michael in such a category.
LeBron James is certainly a freak of nature, actually outperforming Michael Jordan in three statistics. LeBron is still young and has time to improve, however, he will be looked down upon after the Miami Heat situation, ruining any credibility he does have as a competitor.
There is no person in the National Basketball Association, nor will there ever be, as dominant as Michael Jordan.
Jordan’s sheer determination to win and fierce competitive nature is unparalleled, especially with the ways those traits were displayed.
Six MVP trophies, a Rookie of the Year award, six Finals appearances, and six rings, 14 All-Star appearances, and the respect of the entire world is a list of accomplishments anyone will only witness once.
While there are many great superstars currently in the NBA and in the NBA’s future, no individual will have the impact Jordan had on the entire league.
Michael Jordan, an amazing competitor, basketball player, and the best to ever grace the game of basketball, is the greatest of all-time.
Good article, the only thing I disagree with is the Kobe/LeBron throne comment.
Kobe has 5 rings, and LeBron has 0. LeBron had to leave Cleveland to try to get a ring. If he truly was better than Kobe, he would have stayed in Cleveland and won one there.
cry moar??
This article is hilarious if you imagine it being read to you by Bill Swerski, especially the last few sentences.
@rush I agree about the lebron part leaving and stayin…but lebron is a better player then kobe statistics wise…but ring wise kobe got him beat
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