Fans were up in arms as Michael Jordan and LeBron James' age-38 seasons were compared: "Jordan still my GOAT", "LeBron already won this debate"
LA Lakers star forward LeBron James has been on fire since turning 38 on December 30. Over 14 games, James is averaging 34.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game on 51.6% shooting. James' recent scoring run has brought his season averages up to 30.2PPG, 8.5RPG and 7.1APG on 50.5% shooting.
This prompted StatMuse to put out a graphic comparing James’ stats to NBA legend Michael Jordan’s stats in his age-38 season with Washington. James had a clear-cut advantage, with Jordan having averaged 22.9PPG, 5.7RPG and 5.2APG on 41.6% shooting, however, many fans took issue with the comparison.
In their 38-year-old season:
LeBron — Jordan —
30.2 PPG 22.9 PPG
8.5 RPG 5.7 RPG
7.1 APG 5.2 APG
50.5 FG% 41.6 FG% https://t.co/LQJpua0BlE
The post led to an all-out Twitter debate surrounding the context of both players' age-38 seasons. Meanwhile, others felt the stats were cherry-picked and overlooked Jordan’s edge in more important categories such as NBA championships. This all of course culminated in a GOAT debate.
@statmuse Jordan still my goat
@statmuse Jordan didn’t really take care of his body in his later years. He left the NBA for many years and came back way later. Didn’t ever need to return. Not a fair comparison. One is 6-0 in the finals. Other is 4-6. That’s a 100% success rate vs 40%.
Here are a few more fan reactions in favor of Jordan:
@statmuse Jordan was absent for 3 seasons, and passed at age 38. Those numbers were really good. The game was different. That season only 6 players made 25+ PPG. In the current season, we have 20+ players with 25+ PPG. Stats without context are always horrible.
@statmuse By their 38-year-old season:
LeBron — Jordan —
4 rings 6 rings
4 MVPs 5 MVPs
4 FMVPs 6 FMVPs
0 DPOY 1 DPOY
1 Scoring Title 10 Scoring Titles
@statmuse There are dozens of statistical comparisons that will place LeBron over MJ, but having lived through both of their careers, there’s no comparison. There was an “inevitability” about Jordan’s 6 titles that I never felt about LeBron - you just had to be there.
@statmuse Yes, Lebron has the best longevity ever we know this. That doesn’t change the fact that Jordan was more successful during his prime than Lebron was during his prime.
@statmuse Dang now show accolades at age 38. Jordan with 6 championships and 10 scoring titles to go with his 5 MVPs, 9 all defense selections, 3 times steals leader. And despite that low average he still retired being the only player to have a career average of 30.
@statmuse Now adjust for possessions and lebron is only slightly favored, despite this era having much more space and no handchecking. That is all
@statmuse More MVPs, Rings, FMVPS, DPOY, and scoring titles is all i kno
@statmuse MJ is still the goat btw this doesn’t move anybody
@statmuse Jordan had just come back from 2 yrs of being retired also
@statmuse One has 2x three-peat and never lost finals, other one lost 6 finals 💀
Despite the majority of fans defending Jordan, there were still some fans who argued that James is proving he’s the GOAT. A few even argued that James has been the GOAT for a while now.
@statmuse Lol LeBron already won this debate. We don’t have to do all of this.
@statmuse When Lebron Won the chip in Cleveland, the debate was over..
Here are a few more fan reactions in favor of James:
@statmuse Its not even close.. MJ was not as good as Lebron at 18 or 38... he just had a great run with a solid team that did not lose any core members without adding better ones in his prime years. Lebron is the superior player overall
@statmuse LeBron averaging 30 at 38 is honestly crazy 💀💀and he just had a triple double.
If somehow LeBron wins a ring, he the goat cause it would literally be a decade difference from the first time he won a Ring.
@statmuse My goat would never average 22.9 on 41.6% what a clown
@statmuse LBJ > MJ
@statmuse Stop stop. There’s no reason to be showing MJs face. He’s in the past. He has the most of NOTHING. He doesn’t have the most rings. He hasn’t been the best player in more finals than Russell of LeBron. He has more FMVP than Russell Bc the award didn’t exist yet.
Where does LeBron James rank among top scorers in their 20th season?
The GOAT debate will likely continue on with no end for the foreseeable future. However, it looks like LeBron James is set to smash every single scoring record in relation to longevity. As previously mentioned, James is currently averaging 30.2PPG in his 20th season. This has James on pace to set the NBA record by a wide margin.
Outside of James, the most points scored by a player in their 20th season is Lakers legend Kobe Bryant at 17.6PPG. Bryant is followed by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki (12.0PPG) and fellow Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.1PPG).
James is set to pass Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record (38,387 career points) over the next week in what will be a major accomplishment. James (38,299 career points) is only 89 points away from doing so.
However, LeBron James is still averaging around three times more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did in his 20th and final season. So it looks like James could end up blowing Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record out of the water when it’s all said and done.
Also read: LeBron James will be GOAT over Michael Jordan once he gets NBA's scoring record, says Chandler Parsons