Also read: LeBron James vs Michael Jordan - … In terms of getting buckets, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the single greatest player ever. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Wilt Chamberlain. Howe you got those stats matter. Wilt’s rebounding stats were slightly better. Jordan built the league up. ... That's fitting because Giannis may be a hybrid of LeBron and Kareem. Even as his athleticism waned with his age, he was able to score points and that is why he is the greatest scorer ever. In the closing moments of Game 1 of the Finals against the Miami Heat, the Lakers … When breaking down the stats of each, it may be worth mentioning Kareem’s name. Whenever the goat debate takes place, NBA championships are often the first thing that comes up. LeBron James is third on the list with 34,241 points trailing only Karl Malone (36,928 points) for second place. LeBron James is polarizing and doens’t have the charisma and mass appeal that Jordan had. Since day one, both players have marked their impact on the league forever. On the other side, LeBron James has been a phenomenal athlete since high school and the most hyped and popular superstar players ever. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages. Who won more championships? With all the talk about LeBron VS Jordan, what about Kareem? Getty LeBron James, Lakers It’s the holy grail of NBA records: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points, the scoring record he’s held since his retirement in 1989. Suggestions? 1978: Bill Walton: Portland Trail Blazers: No stats available. Both legends played with Hall of Famers and Kareem gets the nod here. like follow March 7, 2019 10:31 am. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also managed to win 3 titles in 3 years at UCLA, which is why he is considered by many as the best basketball player ever taking into account all levels of play. Nobody thought anyone would play as long as LeBron has and still be the best player in the world, so he gets the nod over Kareem in this regard. Land of Basketball is a fan website, for official NBA information visit National Basketball Association's website. Teams, players profiles, awards, stats, records and championships. They are both very dominant players and have been for a very long time. LeBron James was unlucky not to have more because he suffered from being too good in the regular season for modern voters. Kareem’s open letter to ‘Wilt Chumperlame’ With his playing career behind him, a career that saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar score an NBA-record 38,387 points, he released an autobiography, “Giant Steps”, in 1990 and torched Wilt Chamberlain. Call it blasphemy if you wish, but I don't think that Michael Jordan is the greatest player in NBA history. Got To Make This One Count.”, Greatest American Team Sport Athletes of All Time: Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, NBA Executives On The Boston Celtics: “They’re Up To Something…”, NBA Rumors: Clippers Have Made Lou Williams And Patrick Beverley Available In Trade Talks. LeBron needs 2 more seasons at least to catch Kareem’s 6 NBA rings, but he has already surpassed Kareem’s 2 Finals MVPs. He played 15 seasons out of 20 at an All-NBA level, something astonishing and even more incredible considering he was a center who took a ton of hits in the paint as a big man. Kareem had the single most unstoppable move in the history of the game, meaning he could just flick the skyhook for 2 points at any time during a game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is recognized for his longevity. LeBron James has 4 Finals MVPs and 4 NBA titles, meaning he was the best player for each of his NBA rings. Comments? This isn't a knock against LeBron's greatness, but more about how great Kareem was. Jordan broke new grounds as a global superstar, and accomplished things few athletes have ever done. The man was unstoppable on offense, mainly because he had the sky-hook in his arsenal. Who averaged more points in playoffs? ... Stat lines: Jordan - 16 PTS, 7 ASTS, 5 REBS, 5 STLS, 2 BLKS; Erving - 26 PTS, 8 REBS, 4 ASTS, 2 BLKS. Close. The MVP Award is also another major achievement that comes up in GOAT debates. LeBron James - Career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the NBA. In that environment lesser players like Davis fall asleep most of the time, so you need someone dedicated to pumping up their stats to achieve arbitrary landmarks. LeBron on the other hand has had to contend with match after match after match of mediocre opponents who don’t really care about that match they are playing in. These questions and many more, are answered here. On the court, Lebron does has stats to compare to Jordan but being the GOAT isn’t just about the stats. To try to distinguish between the 2 legends, it is time to compare the careers of both players by their most important achievements. Back To Topics. But LeBron James beat him out here. 15 All-NBA Teams vs. 16 All-NBA Teams. / Links. Both players captured at least 4 NBA titles, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 rings. Kareem deserves all 6 MVP Awards because he was the most dominant superstar in the NBA on both ends of the floor. Archived. The reason is their sustained greatness, longevity, and overall impact on the game of basketball over their careers. Kareem was a dominant big man in the league for 20 seasons, having unprecedented longevity for a player of his size. 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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: LeBron James Is Bigger Than the 'GOAT' Debate, He's a Hero for Our Time By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar On 02/14/19 at 8:41 AM EST LeBron vs. Kareem. If anyone appreciates the dominance and longevity of LeBron James’ career, it’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. No stats available. Kareem’s Case. This beats out LeBron’s total so far and also gives a massive edge to Kareem in this comparison. NBA GOAT: LeBron vs. Michael vs. Kareem vs. Wilt vs. the field. Kareem had more assists per game than Wilt in each series. Los Angeles Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently wrote a touching tribute to LeBron James who was recently named as Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsperson of the Year. Tom Brady vs. LeBron James ... the last player to do it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back in 1989. Aside from Michael Jordan, the two players who each get the most consideration of being the greatest player of all time are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James. They have both won at least 4 NBA titles and 2 NBA Finals MVPs, and each has at least 15 All-NBA Team appearances. You could argue LeBron has shrunk the influence of the league here at home. LeBron is on track to surpass Kareem in terms of points scored and will be within shouting distance of his marks in minutes played and win shares. Kareem had 4.7 WS and 2.2 VORP compared to LeBron's 4.3 WS and 2.2 VORP. Kareem has 6 MVP Awards, which is very incredible, while LeBron James has 4. LeBron was an incredible defender early on in his career and especially with the Miami Heat, but he started giving up on defense as he aged and loses out in this comparison of accolades. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Wilt Chamberlain. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is not done chasing greatness. 1976: Kareem … LeBron vs. Kareem. Kareem was consistent and dominant for a decade and a half and earned this achievement. ... Luka Doncic vs. LeBron James. James entered tonight's game vs. the Denver Nuggets just three buckets shy of the Hall of Famer, passing the mark in the first quarter with … Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is recognized for his longevity. Reply. Rookie Michael Jordan put all his skills on display, stuffing the stat sheet against the East giants. Either way, this ends in Kareem’s favor as well. Bulls. 6x MVP, 6 championships, 2x FMVP, 10x all nba first, 5x all nba second, 5x all nba defense 1st team, 6x nba all defense 2nd team, 2x scoring champion, 4x blocks leader, rebounding leader, most points ever in the NBA The debate will go on forever: LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. Kareem has been declared a 'basketball legend' by many and is definitely among the top 3 NBA players of all-time. He played 15 seasons out of 20 at an All-NBA level, something astonishing and even more incredible considering he was a center who took a ton of hits in the paint as a big man. Kareem is widely recognized as one of the greatest defensive players ever. 11 All-Defensive Teams in 20 years is impressive, and his career stats of 2.6 BPG and 0.9 SPG is impressive as well. Kareem was lucky enough to play alongside Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy while LeBron James had Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, and Anthony Davis. larrypmac. The 2017 cavs were a 0 win team with lebron technically lol From 2015-2017 the cavs went 4-22 without Lebron, vs 167-39 with Lebron The 1975 bucks were 3-14 without Kareem and 35-30 with kareem It’s worth mentioning they were 8-0 without Kareem from 72-74, they would be 11-14 without Kareem overall in that stretch. This might be more impressive than having 2 more MVP Awards as well because being the best player in the Finals results in winning NBA championships rather than winning games in the regular season. LeBron was the best player in the world for his championships with the Heat, Cavs, and Lakers and will be hoping he can add the 5th one next season. This actually might be the most impressive accolade in LeBron’s career besides his Finals MVPs. Tommy Beer Forbes ... compelling case can also be made for the criminally underrated and underappreciated Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Posted by. Kareem never quite understood Wilt’s criticism and wrote an open letter to the man he once called his idol in his autobiography. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Twitter: kaj33 (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.) (Lew, Cap, Murdock, Big Fella) Position: Center Shoots: Right 7-2, 225lb (218cm, 102kg) . Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In the 1972 series, Kareem scored 34 points per game to Wilt’s 11 per game, in 1971 Kareem scored 25 per game to Wilt’s 22 per game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. LeBron James Comparison Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side. Kareem knew how to affect any game defensively because he could read the opponent plays and moves naturally. Finals Stats for LeBron James : 29.8 ppg LeBron managed to beat out Kareem’s amazing achievement of 15 All-NBA Teams. Posted on Jan ... His ability to make his teammates better goes far beyond stats IMO. James also improved his jump shooting as he aged, meaning he will go down as one of the best scorers ever. … LeBron might not have a single unstoppable shot like Kareem, but he has incredible physical gifts that allow him to score the ball in the paint whenever he wants. Overall, the comparison is very close although Kareem does have the advantage in most of the key areas. 2 on playoff scoring list Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem managed to win 6 NBA rings with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, while LeBron has won with the Heat, Cavaliers, and Lakers. Rookie Michael Jordan put all his skills on display, stuffing the stat sheet against the East giants. Star ComparisonKareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. LeBron James, This page features career information and stats about the two NBA superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James. After all, winning is what matters most and the greatest player of all time must be a winner of the highest order. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: Regular season advanced stats It's all about which category you choose when it comes to advanced statistics. James is more of a natural playmaker than a scorer, but the fact he is the third leading scorer in history is a testament to his greatness and he might just pass Kareem before he retires. This debate will never be concluded with a clear answer, although it is safe to say that the wide majority of fans and media (regardless of age or bias) believe Michael Jordan to be the greatest ever. Kareem played seasons while LeBron is going onto his 18th season in just a few months. Kareem was a beast on defense even in his 40’s, because he had size and awareness to his advantage. Copyright 2021. landofbasketball.com - All rights reserved. in 1972 Wilt had 19.3 rebounds per game, Kareem had 17.5 rebounds per game; in 1971 Wilt had 18.8 per game, Kareem had 17.2 per game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Michael Jordan Comparison Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side. Pronunciation: \kuh-REEM ab-dool juh-BAR\. 1. Who won more MVP awards? Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James added another piece of NBA history to his resume, passing Wilt Chamberlain (12,681) for third place on the all-time in field goals made list.. VOTE FOR 2021 NBA ALL-STAR STARTERS HERE! Giannis' overall stat line of 32 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals was absurd. ... Luka Doncic vs. LeBron James. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the single greatest scorer in NBA history in total points, while LeBron James is third in total points. 3× NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016) 3× NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016) 4× NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) 15× NBA All-Star (2005–2019) ... vs. … It would have been “too boring” to give LeBron the MVP every year, so the likes of Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose might have stolen some MVP Awards from LeBron. This one ends in Kareem’s favor as well. 1977: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Los Angeles Lakers: No stats available. Winner of six NBA titles (five with the Los Angeles Lakers), six MVPs, two Finals MVPs. LeBron James should have made more All-Defensive Teams over his career because he has the physical tools to be the best defender of all time. Let me just clear up some things. 7 months ago. These Stats Suggest LeBron James Is The Greatest Basketball Player Ever. Born: April 16, 1947 in New York, New York us College: UCLA High School: Power Memorial in New York, New York Kareem has 2 Finals MVPs because he played alongside the likes of the great Magic Johnson and James Worthy. Kareem has the unstoppable and unblockable sky-hook shot on offense and was also one of the greatest defensive centers ever. It makes sense their BPM is also about the same then with Kareem at 9.9 and LeBron … While Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 NBA titles, which is 2 more than LeBron James, James has 4 Finals MVPs over Kareem’s 2. LeBron did play two more games but in terms of minutes they both played around 750 (758 for Kareem and 744 for LeBron). Kareem and LeBron come close, but MJ seems to be the widely accepted GOAT. Playoffs 2017: East Semifinals -- Cavs (2) vs. Raptors (3) LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for No. He’s a 19-time All-Star, 15-time … Can LeBron James break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record? Isiah Thomas on why LeBron James will be the greatest of all time, ... “Kareem, Magic, Bird, Jordan, myself, ... including stats that are still relevant in 2020. ... Stat lines: Jordan - 16 PTS, 7 ASTS, 5 REBS, 5 STLS, 2 BLKS; Erving - 26 PTS, 8 REBS, 4 ASTS, 2 BLKS. Here we will take an in-depth look to see the merits each bring to the conversation, and who should be ranked higher. I'm not a … It is no wonder why many of the “old-heads” consider Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the greatest player of all time, while the majority of the younger generation would take LeBron James over him. Who scored more points in his career? By completing a very difficult 2020 season, LeBron made his 16th All-NBA Team to one-up Kareem. Advantage: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar . Who led the season more times? He only has 2 fewer rings than Jabbar while also having the most impressive finals win in 2016 against the Warriors. Share this article share tweet text email link Nick Schwartz. This award shows who the best player throughout an entire regular season, and in the case of both of these players, it shows how many times they were the best player in the league. Privacy and Cookies Policy. Until then, Kareem has the advantage again. 15. Hello, today I thought I would try uploading something different. Contact us! Three blocks and two steals was absurd achievements for the criminally underrated and underappreciated Abdul-Jabbar. 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