LeBron James is a better FIBA player than Jordan ever was...

The MVPlaya · Post #1 » by **The MVPlaya** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:58 am

...is what my friend claims.

I then looked back at the stats myself, and to my surprise statistically Jordan didn't seem very dominant, from a statistical standpoint. He was the teams' 2nd leading scorer but also tied for the worse FG% on the Dream Team only shooting 45% which seems very average for FIBA play. But then I also reminded him that Jordan was the leading scorer on the 1984 Olympic team. Then he brought up how international competition is much tougher these days.

What do you guys think? Do you think my friends claim is true?

shawngoat23 · Post #2 » by **shawngoat23** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:07 am

Maybe? But only in the sense that the Dream Team was just clowning around and everyone was able to rotate around because they were just so dominant. I'm sure that Jordan under FIBA rules would still be a better player than LeBron James.

KDRE · Post #3 » by **KDRE** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:13 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-8MJ84834

Texas Longhorns · Post #4 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:13 am

What does that mean? It doesn't mean he was a better basketball player than Jordan. Jordan could play anywhere he wanted and dominated IF HE WANTED TO. I don't think LeBron's dominance would even compare to Michaels.

aroba · Post #5 » by **aroba** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:14 am

The MVPlaya wrote:What do you guys think? Do you think my friends claim is true?

NO

Jordan just played as a teammate. On 84 US NT with Bobby Knight and also the Dream team, individual was not allowed in first case and was not necessary in the second.

Post #6 » by **Cowology** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:43 am

Eh, I think if you put Jordan on this team he'd clearly be the best player. He'd take on "The Dobermans" defensive responsibilities (and do them better) while also being the offensive catalyst that LeBron/Wade have been.

Not to much should be read into what happened in '92. The US was so far beyond their competition everything is a bit skewed. Jordan (and the rest of the team) were never really pushed.

prekazi · Post #7 » by **prekazi** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:47 am

I don't think we need threads like this. One week it's kobe another it's LeBron or Wade. Leave the G.O.A.T alone!

Wilfried · Post #8 » by **Wilfried** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:06 am

Your friend should be banned to speak about bball for the rest of his life.

CircleCitysportsfan · Post #9 » by **CircleCitysportsfan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:13 am

2 gold>>>>>>2 bronze

Frosty · Post #10 » by **Frosty** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:19 am

Cowology wrote:Eh, I think if you put Jordan on this team he'd clearly be the best player. He'd take on "The Dobermans" defensive responsibilities (and do them better)

Jordan and Pippen were the original Dobermans. Phil used to call them exactly that and said he would release his dobermans on the opposing team. I know it's a shock that Kobe would give himself a nickname associated with MJ.

reycat · Post #11 » by **reycat** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:08 pm

I don't think Jordan would commit travelling (even if it's not called) every other play. He'd change his game to FIBA rules so that he didn't. 'nuff said.

CzBoobie · Post #12 » by **CzBoobie** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:08 pm

Man, you gotta love threads like this...

What's next? Thread called "Pierce is a better player than Jordan ever was"...my grandma says that.

ropjhk · Post #13 » by **ropjhk** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:45 pm

I find it funny how the OP had to mention that the Lebron > Jordan suggestion was his friends. It's almost like when somebody has an embarrassing problem they need advice on and they start off with "Dad, I have this friend who, sort of...".

nitetrain8603 · Post #14 » by **nitetrain8603** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:31 pm

Jordan & Pippen > Everyone on this team minus Kobe.

Don Draper · Post #15 » by **Don Draper** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:58 pm

KDRE wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te-8MJ84834

Not only did they get dunked of but they get hailed with broken glass. That has to suck.

Post #16 » by **INKtastic** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:17 pm

Jordan didn't do more on the dream team because he didn't have to. And that was part of his condition on agreeing to play, even.

As for LeBron, not to compare him to Jordan, but this simply seemed like the best place to post this. It's entirely possible that LeBron ends up leading team USA in points, assists, and rebounds. Has that ever been done before?

Benedict_Boozer · Post #17 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:26 pm

^The reality is, it doesn't matter if LBJ leads them in pts/rebs/assists. All that matters is that the TEAM wins the gold (no offense btw lj, get your point - just my opinion)

Cybulski37 · Post #18 » by **Cybulski37** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:01 pm

Even if he is, it doesn't really matter that much. The olympics are once every four years, and only delusional Manu homers bring up Olympics in discussion of who the best NBA player is.

NetsForce · Post #19 » by **NetsForce** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:11 pm

If Jordan played alongside Kobe he would look a lot better than he did too.

Rodya · Post #20 » by **Rodya** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:14 pm

Jordon played alongside some good players as well...But these Jordon comparisons need to die already.