Superior defender: MJ or LeBron?

[The4thHorseman]

*Not an actual argument, just a cool photo of LeBron blocking a 7 footer.

MJ would've been credited for 4 blocks on that play.

[The Explorer]

James has been a poor defender for several years of his career. His teammates even had to push him to get in the right position. He offers very little on the defensive end for the past several seasons. Also around 75-80%% of his defensive rebounds are uncontested (tracking began in 2015), which for his size, is underwhelming. Westbrook got killed for that, but James was doing it just the same.

Jordan led the league in steals 3x, it's clear as day that Jordan had some of the best hands in NBA history. Jordan was more consistent, more durable, and had a higher motor.

Jordan also was a better shot blocker. Jordan is the only SG to have multiple 100 block seasons. Lebron was never among the top shot blockers for his position. He blocked shots in basically any scenario - in transition, on the ball, putbacks, off-ball & weak-side help.

Steals and blocks are not everything on defense, but it's clear his disruption caused great havoc on opposing offenses. There was less need for the Bulls bigs to protect the paint when Jordan was shutting them down on the perimeter.

There were questions during Lebron's peak in 2011 finals if he could guard and stay in front of Jason Terry. He couldn't, he got crushed on blow-bys from Terry far too many times.

[Ritzo]

Gasol had a better DWS, DBPM, DRTG, averaged more stocks, and his team finished #2 in DRTG to LeBron's #9.

"robbed"

Hakeem led all those stats over MJ, and MJ's DBPM wasn't even top 10 that year. But I bet you wouldn't say he robbed Hakeem.

He didn't lead all those stats over MJ.
However, with the new information that came to light, I think its fair to consider that MJ didn't deserve that DPOY.

- Hakeem 98.05 DRTG (1st) MJ 101.47 (6th)
- Hakeem 6.82 DWS (1st) MJ 6.07 (3rd)
But ok

[CBS7]

Hakeem led all those stats over MJ, and MJ's DBPM wasn't even top 10 that year. But I bet you wouldn't say he robbed Hakeem.

He didn't lead all those stats over MJ.
However, with the new information that came to light, I think its fair to consider that MJ didn't deserve that DPOY.

- Hakeem 98.05 DRTG (1st) MJ 101.47 (6th)
- Hakeem 6.82 DWS (1st) MJ 6.07 (3rd)
But ok

"all those stats"
*doesnt link DBPM or Stocks*

BUT OK INDEED

[therealbig3]

IMO, particularly in the playoffs, clearly LeBron. He was an elite wing defender every year from 09-18. And 2020 as well. Even in recent LA seasons he’s been a good defender despite his age. He’s bigger and stronger, and just a smarter all-around defender than Jordan. He’s a legit anchor to a defense, Jordan was not.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Lebron sucks on defense.

It’s all about effort and he’s always ducked guarding the other teams best player consistently all the time. He takes no pride in it, if he did he’d have all the hardware to back it up. With his physical gifts he should’ve been an all time defensive GOAT.

If he played defense like Jordan did he also would’ve had a career that lasts half as long as whatever he ends up retiring with. He’s a bum on defense.

[ballzboyee]

How is this even a debate? Jordan was All-Defensive 1st Team basically every year he was in the league, including his final season in 1998 at or near his prime at age 35. Lebron not has made an All-Defensive team in 10 years or since he was 30-years-old. Lebron was still in his prime when he stopped being All-League level defender, and that is because he does not put in the effort on both ends. He deliberately chose to embrace a heliocentric offensive style of play in which acted as his team's main facilitator even when he had an all-star level point guard, so he has coasted on one-side of the ball.

Jordan is also a better lockdown perimeter man defender. Jordan's steal and block numbers per 100 are better. Jordan led the league in defensive DBPM twice, etc. Lebron has led the league in DPBM only once but that would have been Jordan's fourth best defensive year accordiing to that metric. Lebron second best DBPM score would also only rank good enough for Jordan's fourth best season. Jordan's DBPM peak is higher. Jordan's steal and block percentages are better. Jordan was a very aggressive man defender who made a lot of timely plays that impacted the game. Both Pippen and Jordan played very smothering style of defense in which they would attack the ball handler at all levels of the court, including full court. There are so many examples of Jordan and Pippen trapping the ball early in an offensive set. Jordan was a master at ball pressure and generating steals in routine situations against very good ball handlers.

I guess you could argue that because of Lebron's size he has more utility as a post defender, but Lebron played in a era in which the opposing offensive best player has typically been a perimeter scorer. Just look at the teams that have been Lebron's rival of the years... Paul George, Paul Pierce, Dirk, Spurs with Manu and Kawhi, and the GSW with Curry, Durant, and Klay. Anyway, there was no way Lebron could play man defense against a true center like Jokic or Duncan in the post in the playoffs. He's big but he not that big, and coaches don't typically like to get their players in foul trouble like that. Those guys would just hammer Lebron in the post. He's still too small. It's just sort of a moot hypothetical assertion to claim that he is capable of that kind of defensive versatility in games that actually matter. Also, as a bigger perimeter defender, Lebron is susceptible to switches against smaller, quicker guards. Size comes with its disadvantages also.

[CobraCommander]

*Not an actual argument, just a cool photo of LeBron blocking a 7 footer.

This is obviously fake news AI generated by Klutch to advance the LeBron James GOAT Replacement Theory. Nice try, Brasco. We're not going to fall for it.

LOL! He blocked Tiago Splitter. True accomplishment.

And he's not 7'.

It is a cool photo though.

lebron blocking a guy whose jump had a loading screen with a lobby for players to say innapproiate stuff is NOT impressive.

[therealbig3]

How is this even a debate? Jordan was All-Defensive 1st Team basically every year he was in the league, including his final season in 1998 at or near his prime at age 35. Lebron not has made an All-Defensive team in 10 years or since he was 30-years-old. Lebron was still in his prime when he stopped being All-League level defender, and that is because he does not put in the effort on both ends. He deliberately chose to embrace a heliocentric offensive style of play in which acted as his team's main facilitator even when he had an all-star level point guard, so he has coasted on one-side of the ball.

Jordan is also a better lockdown perimeter man defender. Jordan's steal and block numbers per 100 are better. Jordan led the league in defensive DBPM twice, etc. Lebron has led the league in DPBM only once but that would have been Jordan's fourth best defensive year accordiing to that metric. Lebron second best DBPM score would also only rank good enough for Jordan's fourth best season. Jordan's DBPM peak is higher. Jordan's steal and block percentages are better. Jordan was a very aggressive man defender who made a lot of timely plays that impacted the game. Both Pippen and Jordan played very smothering style of defense in which they would attack the ball handler at all levels of the court, including full court. There are so many examples of Jordan and Pippen trapping the ball early in an offensive set. Jordan was a master at ball pressure and generating steals in routine situations against very good ball handlers.

I guess you could argue that because of Lebron's size he has more utility as a post defender, but Lebron played in a era in which the opposing offensive best player has typically been a perimeter scorer. Just look at the teams that have been Lebron's rival of the years... Paul George, Paul Pierce, Dirk, Spurs with Manu and Kawhi, and the GSW with Curry, Durant, and Klay. Anyway, there was no way Lebron could play man defense against a true center like Jokic or Duncan in the post in the playoffs. He's big but he not that big, and coaches don't typically like to get their players in foul trouble like that. Those guys would just hammer Lebron in the post. He's still too small. It's just sort of a moot hypothetical assertion to claim that he is capable of that kind of defensive versatility in games that actually matter. Also, as a bigger perimeter defender, Lebron is susceptible to switches against smaller, quicker guards. Size comes with its disadvantages also.

I’d say that LeBron didn’t get reputation All-D selections like Jordan and Kobe did, even when he was worthy of it. I thought he was excellent defensively in 2020 for example.

“Stocks” are a really poor way to measure defense, and by extension so is DPM, since it’s based on the box score. We have actual +/- data that shows LeBron being an outstanding historically good wing defender throughout his prime, ESPECIALLY in the playoffs. We also have evidence that the box score stats were severely overinflated for Jordan in order to make him look good and help him get that DPOY in 1988.

As defenders, Jordan was much more of a high risk high reward defender who fortunately had excellent defenders flanking him. LeBron is much more fundamentally sound and actually anchors his team and directs his teammates. He diagnoses what the offense is doing and subsequently blows it up. He’s bigger and stronger and far more versatile than Jordan. It’s not just about man defense or box score stats. He’s capable of switching onto bigger players and battling them for position and grabbing rebounds. He’s more of a rim deterrent just because of his size and strength. And as far as his perimeter defense, pretty much it’s just the small quick guards that could attack LeBron better than Jordan…and yet, Westbrook, Rose, and Parker all struggled against him. As did Curry. He didn’t really give up much while anchoring his teams’ defense AND being a much better defender against bigger and stronger players.

LeBron has been far more deserving of a DPOY than Jordan ever was as far as actual defensive impact is concerned. His teams fell apart defensively without him, in the playoffs especially. Jordan’s teams didn’t have that happen.

[CobraCommander]

How is this even a debate? Jordan was All-Defensive 1st Team basically every year he was in the league, including his final season in 1998 at or near his prime at age 35. Lebron not has made an All-Defensive team in 10 years or since he was 30-years-old. Lebron was still in his prime when he stopped being All-League level defender, and that is because he does not put in the effort on both ends. He deliberately chose to embrace a heliocentric offensive style of play in which acted as his team's main facilitator even when he had an all-star level point guard, so he has coasted on one-side of the ball.

Jordan is also a better lockdown perimeter man defender. Jordan's steal and block numbers per 100 are better. Jordan led the league in defensive DBPM twice, etc. Lebron has led the league in DPBM only once but that would have been Jordan's fourth best defensive year accordiing to that metric. Lebron second best DBPM score would also only rank good enough for Jordan's fourth best season. Jordan's DBPM peak is higher. Jordan's steal and block percentages are better. Jordan was a very aggressive man defender who made a lot of timely plays that impacted the game. Both Pippen and Jordan played very smothering style of defense in which they would attack the ball handler at all levels of the court, including full court. There are so many examples of Jordan and Pippen trapping the ball early in an offensive set. Jordan was a master at ball pressure and generating steals in routine situations against very good ball handlers.

I guess you could argue that because of Lebron's size he has more utility as a post defender, but Lebron played in a era in which the opposing offensive best player has typically been a perimeter scorer. Just look at the teams that have been Lebron's rival of the years... Paul George, Paul Pierce, Dirk, Spurs with Manu and Kawhi, and the GSW with Curry, Durant, and Klay. Anyway, there was no way Lebron could play man defense against a true center like Jokic or Duncan in the post in the playoffs. He's big but he not that big, and coaches don't typically like to get their players in foul trouble like that. Those guys would just hammer Lebron in the post. He's still too small. It's just sort of a moot hypothetical assertion to claim that he is capable of that kind of defensive versatility in games that actually matter. Also, as a bigger perimeter defender, Lebron is susceptible to switches against smaller, quicker guards. Size comes with its disadvantages also.

I’d say that LeBron didn’t get reputation All-D selections like Jordan and Kobe did, even when he was worthy of it. I thought he was excellent defensively in 2020 for example.

“Stocks” are a really poor way to measure defense, and by extension so is DPM, since it’s based on the box score. We have actual +/- data that shows LeBron being an outstanding historically good wing defender throughout his prime, ESPECIALLY in the playoffs. We also have evidence that the box score stats were severely overinflated for Jordan in order to make him look good and help him get that DPOY in 1988.

As defenders, Jordan was much more of a high risk high reward defender who fortunately had excellent defenders flanking him. LeBron is much more fundamentally sound and actually anchors his team and directs his teammates. He diagnoses what the offense is doing and subsequently blows it up. He’s bigger and stronger and far more versatile than Jordan. It’s not just about man defense or box score stats. He’s capable of switching onto bigger players and battling them for position and grabbing rebounds. He’s more of a rim deterrent just because of his size and strength. And as far as his perimeter defense, pretty much it’s just the small quick guards that could attack LeBron better than Jordan…and yet, Westbrook, Rose, and Parker all struggled against him. As did Curry. He didn’t really give up much while anchoring his teams’ defense AND being a much better defender against bigger and stronger players.

LeBron has been far more deserving of a DPOY than Jordan ever was as far as actual defensive impact is concerned. His teams fell apart defensively without him, in the playoffs especially. Jordan’s teams didn’t have that happen.

You have to let us know your age when you make this debate - not that I will discredit you because of youth It’s just I can’t make a nuanced arguement for or against magic and bird cause I only saw the very ends of their careers with mature eyes - with mj and Lebron I saw the entirety of both-


people that watched both of them don’t make this argument. Lebron litterally never went out of his way to stop anyone ever - never had a period where he was focused on defense or being the best defender possible, especially when he realized (based on him stopping being all defense after 30) to be his best he needed to focus on offense and get other guys to play wing defense. In a way, I don’t blame Lebron for being less than Jordan on defense because the league has devalued defense. Even Giannis has stopped being as locked in on defense in an effort to maximize energy expenditure on offense.

I think the question of if LeBron could have been as good as a defender in Jordan’s era or vice versa is more appropriate considering the rules changes

[ScrantonBulls]

How is this even a debate? Jordan was All-Defensive 1st Team basically every year he was in the league, including his final season in 1998 at or near his prime at age 35. Lebron not has made an All-Defensive team in 10 years or since he was 30-years-old. Lebron was still in his prime when he stopped being All-League level defender, and that is because he does not put in the effort on both ends. He deliberately chose to embrace a heliocentric offensive style of play in which acted as his team's main facilitator even when he had an all-star level point guard, so he has coasted on one-side of the ball.

Jordan is also a better lockdown perimeter man defender. Jordan's steal and block numbers per 100 are better. Jordan led the league in defensive DBPM twice, etc. Lebron has led the league in DPBM only once but that would have been Jordan's fourth best defensive year accordiing to that metric. Lebron second best DBPM score would also only rank good enough for Jordan's fourth best season. Jordan's DBPM peak is higher. Jordan's steal and block percentages are better. Jordan was a very aggressive man defender who made a lot of timely plays that impacted the game. Both Pippen and Jordan played very smothering style of defense in which they would attack the ball handler at all levels of the court, including full court. There are so many examples of Jordan and Pippen trapping the ball early in an offensive set. Jordan was a master at ball pressure and generating steals in routine situations against very good ball handlers.

I guess you could argue that because of Lebron's size he has more utility as a post defender, but Lebron played in a era in which the opposing offensive best player has typically been a perimeter scorer. Just look at the teams that have been Lebron's rival of the years... Paul George, Paul Pierce, Dirk, Spurs with Manu and Kawhi, and the GSW with Curry, Durant, and Klay. Anyway, there was no way Lebron could play man defense against a true center like Jokic or Duncan in the post in the playoffs. He's big but he not that big, and coaches don't typically like to get their players in foul trouble like that. Those guys would just hammer Lebron in the post. He's still too small. It's just sort of a moot hypothetical assertion to claim that he is capable of that kind of defensive versatility in games that actually matter. Also, as a bigger perimeter defender, Lebron is susceptible to switches against smaller, quicker guards. Size comes with its disadvantages also.

I’d say that LeBron didn’t get reputation All-D selections like Jordan and Kobe did, even when he was worthy of it. I thought he was excellent defensively in 2020 for example.

“Stocks” are a really poor way to measure defense, and by extension so is DPM, since it’s based on the box score. We have actual +/- data that shows LeBron being an outstanding historically good wing defender throughout his prime, ESPECIALLY in the playoffs. We also have evidence that the box score stats were severely overinflated for Jordan in order to make him look good and help him get that DPOY in 1988.

As defenders, Jordan was much more of a high risk high reward defender who fortunately had excellent defenders flanking him. LeBron is much more fundamentally sound and actually anchors his team and directs his teammates. He diagnoses what the offense is doing and subsequently blows it up. He’s bigger and stronger and far more versatile than Jordan. It’s not just about man defense or box score stats. He’s capable of switching onto bigger players and battling them for position and grabbing rebounds. He’s more of a rim deterrent just because of his size and strength. And as far as his perimeter defense, pretty much it’s just the small quick guards that could attack LeBron better than Jordan…and yet, Westbrook, Rose, and Parker all struggled against him. As did Curry. He didn’t really give up much while anchoring his teams’ defense AND being a much better defender against bigger and stronger players.

LeBron has been far more deserving of a DPOY than Jordan ever was as far as actual defensive impact is concerned. His teams fell apart defensively without him, in the playoffs especially. Jordan’s teams didn’t have that happen.

You have to let us know your age when you make this debate - not that I will discredit you because of youth It’s just I can’t make a nuanced arguement for or against magic and bird cause I only saw the very ends of their careers with mature eyes - with mj and Lebron I saw the entirety of both-


people that watched both of them don’t make this argument. Lebron litterally never went out of his way to stop anyone ever - never had a period where he was focused on defense or being the best defender possible, especially when he realized (based on him stopping being all defense after 30) to be his best he needed to focus on offense and get other guys to play wing defense. In a way, I don’t blame Lebron for being less than Jordan on defense because the league has devalued defense. Even Giannis has stopped being as locked in on defense in an effort to maximize energy expenditure on offense.

I think the question of if LeBron could have been as good as a defender in Jordan’s era or vice versa is more appropriate considering the rules changes

This is such a weak-ass argument. You can literally watch old games in full on YouTube. The human memory is complete ****, hence why eyewitness testimonies are so unreliable in court. Why should a requirement be "I saw him with my eyes 40 years ago"? It's a terrible argument.

[fanofthegreats]

Lebron sucks on defense.

It’s all about effort and he’s always ducked guarding the other teams best player consistently all the time. He takes no pride in it, if he did he’d have all the hardware to back it up. With his physical gifts he should’ve been an all time defensive GOAT.

If he played defense like Jordan did he also would’ve had a career that lasts half as long as whatever he ends up retiring with. He’s a bum on defense.

Lmao. Great take. Ironically coming from a Jordan who conveniently retired twice and still couldn’t match LeBron’s sustained excellence.

[90sAllDecade]

LeBron was very good some years but it's Jordan here pretty clearly to me. Personally, I think the 'he's bigger and just as good so he's a better defender' idea is a lazy take.

Even though he was not as big Jordan was just as good or perhaps a better shot blocker than LeBron at his peak. Blows him out on steals, perimeter defense, etc. His calling card was his intense competitive nature; he'd guard stars and dominate them on both ends.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[kuclas]

Lebron pretty much stopped playing real
Defense after 2016. I remember he would guard s curry when he felt like it in those playoffs

I also think MJ started taking a plays off on defense his last couple of seasons

They are both great defenders but MJ had less wear and tear playing less years. So in people’s mindset. MJ was the better defender. I think it’s close. Slight edge to MJ.

That chase down block by Lebron. That’s when he wanted to play defense

[SweetTouch]

*Not an actual argument, just a cool photo of LeBron blocking a 7 footer.

MJ would've been credited for 4 blocks on that play.

Lbj always willing to be in the center of a poster to help his team get a defensive stop

[therealbig3]

LeBron was very good some years but it's Jordan here pretty clearly to me. Personally, I think the 'he's bigger and just as good so he's a better defender' idea is a lazy take.

Even though he was not as big Jordan was just as good or perhaps a better shot blocker than LeBron at his peak. Blows him out on steals, perimeter defense, etc. His calling card was his intense competitive nature; he'd guard stars and dominate them on both ends.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

But we know that man defense is not as important as actually anchoring a defense, because you're affecting EVERYONE, not just 1 guy. And LeBron did that to a bigger degree than Jordan. It's not that he's "bigger so he's better", it's that he's bigger, stronger, and SMARTER defensively. Actually breaking down game tape of both of them, and Jordan is CLEARLY a guy that takes a ton of risks on defense...he's athletic enough to recover a lot of the time...but a lot of the time he DIDN'T, which nobody will ever make a highlight video of. LeBron doesn't do that, from what I've seen, he actually plays pretty fundamentally sound defense without gambling too much, or when he does, he's shooting a gap after predicting what the offense is going to do based on his ridiculous IQ and memory of offensive sets and tendencies. He's a stronger presence inside and on the glass, it's not an immediate mismatch if he gets matched up against a PF or C, and he's fully capable of defending and shutting down wings and guards as well.

To me, Jordan is a guy that does need strong defensive pieces around him, like Pippen and/or Grant/Rodman, because his high risk high reward style of play does need to be covered for in the instances it doesn't work out. And he's not going to be THE guy for a high level defense. LeBron was that guy for Miami and Cleveland. He was like a mini-Garnett at one point in terms of filling all the holes and being everywhere at once.

And that's backed up by the +/- data as well. We don't have the detailed +/- stats for Jordan, but defensively, the Bulls didn't seem to live or die with Jordan, they basically still sustained a really high level of play with or without him on that end of the floor.

Sure, we want to talk about how LeBron seems to be taking regular seasons off on defense, but I would say a lot of that is grossly exaggerated, a lot of that is due to the amount of mileage he has which really can't be compared to anyone else in history, and what really matters is what did he do in the playoffs? In the playoffs, LeBron pretty much always brought his A game on both ends of the floor.

[JonFromVA]

LeBron guarding 1-5 is such a meme, dudes been getting hidden on the easiest matchup for over 15 years now. Acting everyone didn’t watch him spend 90% of 2011 matched on Kidd and Stevenson

There is a wide gap between what James could do, and what he did do, because there is a downside to being 6'9" 250lb+ with near 0 body fat and it's that he burns up a lot of energy with little in reserve. If he was asked to do everything he needed to do on offense AND give full effort on defense his body would shut down on him.

Maybe Pops would play him 33 minutes a night, have him share the offensive load and give full effort on defense? If that was the case, we'd perceive him differently.

But when he was on the Cavs, the offense constantly died when he wasn't running it, so, they did everything they could so he could be on the floor for as long as possible until the outcome was no longer in question.

And even when he was defending a weaker offensive player, he still provided help defense playing the free safety role. Consider in '08/'09 when the Cavs won 66-games and had the 3rd best defense they were #1 defensively when James was on the floor, and #22 when he was off.

When James was on the ball, he had the strength to hold his ground and the length so he could play back a bit and still contest shots. What seemed to bother him were guys who were actually bigger than him that could shoot over him with a hook or flip shot. He had some problems with his foot speed early in his career that quickly became a non-factor.

His BBIQ was also a major contributing factor on defense and he could call out coverages easier when he was playing the free safety role.

It's a shame 82games and Synergy weren't around when Jordan played for the Bulls. Box-score derived defensive stats suck. I'd almost consider it to be two different eras.

We do have some numbers that can be found on archive.org for Jordan at age 39 (same age as James now) at the dawn of the analytics eras, fwiw.

[Iwasawitness]

James has been a poor defender for several years of his career. His teammates even had to push him to get in the right position. He offers very little on the defensive end for the past several seasons. Also around 75-80%% of his defensive rebounds are uncontested (tracking began in 2015), which for his size, is underwhelming. Westbrook got killed for that, but James was doing it just the same.

Jordan led the league in steals 3x, it's clear as day that Jordan had some of the best hands in NBA history. Jordan was more consistent, more durable, and had a higher motor.

Jordan also was a better shot blocker. Jordan is the only SG to have multiple 100 block seasons. Lebron was never among the top shot blockers for his position. He blocked shots in basically any scenario - in transition, on the ball, putbacks, off-ball & weak-side help.

Steals and blocks are not everything on defense, but it's clear his disruption caused great havoc on opposing offenses. There was less need for the Bulls bigs to protect the paint when Jordan was shutting them down on the perimeter.

There were questions during Lebron's peak in 2011 finals if he could guard and stay in front of Jason Terry. He couldn't, he got crushed on blow-bys from Terry far too many times.

Posts like this are what happens when people don't read the OP. You actually put in decent effort (albeit repeating the same tired talking points) but don't address what the OP is asking.

Who was the better defender AT THEIR BEST?

Keep in mind that LeBron, at his best, made a team filled with mostly below average defenders one of the best in the league. That is the absurd kind of impact he had defensively. Jordan could never make that kind of impact, because that isn't the kind of defender that he was. He was one of the all time best one on one defenders, but that's hard to measure up to when comparing him to one of the all time best all around defenders, which LeBron was at his best.

In other words, people, stop mentioning his LA days or even his second stint Cleveland days. Those aren't when he was at his best.

[Iwasawitness]

There's one thing people aren't mentioning and it needs to be pointed out: playing defense in the 80s and 90s is very different from playing defense now. There was much less movement at the perimeter. And as Jordan got older, the pace of the game slowed down, while as LeBron got older, the pace of the game increased. So of course LeBron wasn't going to continue to be an elite defender.

Defense now requires so much more movement, a LOT more switching, and you aren't able to be as physical as you once were. Just like MJ's 6 championship rings compared to LeBron's 4, he had all the advantages in the world to allow him to gain the accolades needed to boost his resume. And if the thread about Jordan's DPOY is any indication, he more than likely didn't deserve the one people love to blindly point out when comparing him to LeBron on defense (I guess Marcus Smart is a better defender than Tim Duncan, right?).

[Sweet Serenity]

LeBron is the greatest fast break defender of all time!
He's also the most versatile that guarded MVP Rose, Durant, PG, Zion, Jokic

That's something MJ could never do!

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He rarely guarded those guys ya casual lol