Received a call from a disgruntled Gazette reader last week. The caller was under the impression that I believed LeBron James, who is on the brink of leading the Heat to an NBA title, was the equal of Michael Jordan, who is the greatest basketball player ever to inhabit our planet. (Or any other planet.)
I did make a passing comparison of LeBron to Michael when writing about the greatest skywalkers in NBA history. The list also includes David Thompson, Gus Johnson and Julius Erving. Here’s the column about LeBron that bothered the Gazette reader who called me. (I predicted, by the way, LeBron and Heat would beat the Thunder in The Finals.)
http://www.gazette.com/sports/lebron-140070-finally-rule.html
But I never said LeBron is Michael’s equal.
Jordan carried the Bulls to six NBA titles. Jordan captured the attention and imagination of fans all over the world. Jordan lifted the NBA to heights never before seen and not seen since his departure.
LeBron is only 27. He has plenty of years to add to his legacy.
But let me make this perfectly clear:
I do not consider LeBron to be Michael’s equal. I don’t consider anyone to be Michael’s equal.
You can’t forget Kobe Bryant either. He has five championships…
Whats the Saturday Night Live line? “Oh,Never Mind”, or something like that. Just read all your readers who said he hadn’t proved anything yet . Lebron in not only by far the best basketball player, he seems like the nicest. I can’t even begin to understand the hate. Cleveland would move to Miami if it could. It would move to Pittsburgh! Lebron is the best guard, forward and probably best point guard in the league. Certainly the best passer. And maybe the best shooter and 4th quarter player now. He’s Jordan with Magic and Karl Malone thrown in. Probably the same people hating Tebow while he was giving us one of the most exciting years by the Broncos ever. Jordans’ gone. He is so hyped he’s becoming the most over-rated. Lebron moved. Big deal. Jordon failed at ownership, drafting, restaurants, gambling- name it. He won’t even move to to town where he runs a team. I think he was an abrasive team-mate. Durant is a great player. More of a George Gervin than Jordan at this time. Lose the glasses. With all the titles, I’ll remember Kobe for jacking up one clanker after another over three defenders as Gasol rolls wide open to the basket. Lebron is hated for hitting the open man when he’s triple teamed at the end of the game. Just like 10,000 coaches beg you to do since before you started wearing a jock. Sorry I am fretting about this crap while our beautiful city is burning.