Michael Jordan won 6 NBA championships with 5 MVP awards and a 30.1 PPG average, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the all-time scoring record with 38,387 points and 6 MVP awards. Jordan is widely considered the greatest player ever due to his peak dominance and clutch performances, while Kareem's longevity and consistency across 20 seasons remain unmatched.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Michael Jordan — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers center (1969-1989) with 6 MVP awards and 38,387 career points.
Chicago Bulls legend with 6 championships and 5 MVPs (1984-2003)
Career Points Scored. NBA Championships Won. MVP Awards. Career Scoring Average. NBA Finals Appearances. All-Star Selections. Career Length
Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time due to his 6 championship rings, peak scoring dominance (30.1 PPG), and unmatched clutch performance in Finals contests—winning 6 of 6 championship series. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's legacy rests on unparalleled longevity, the all-time scoring record (38,387 points), and most MVP awards (6), making him the greatest individual scorer and most consistent player ever. Choose Jordan if you value championship success and peak dominance; choose Kareem if you value all-time statistical longevity and consistency.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6 championships | Michael Jordan: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 3 | Michael Jordan: 5 MVPs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 20 seasons | Michael Jordan: 15
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 0 NBA Cup MVPs | Michael Jordan: N/A
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1 title | Michael Jordan: N/A
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Center (position-specific) | Michael Jordan: N/A
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1969-1989 (pre-3-point era emphasis) | Michael Jordan: N/A
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 2 | Michael Jordan: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387 | Michael Jordan: 32,292
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 55.9% | Michael Jordan: 50.3%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 24.6 | Michael Jordan: 30.1
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 19 | Michael Jordan: 13
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1 | Michael Jordan: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 20 | Michael Jordan: 15
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6 | Michael Jordan: 5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 0 | Michael Jordan: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 3 | Michael Jordan: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 5,633
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 6,672
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 33.5 PPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 83.4%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 32.7%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 13× All-Star
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 6.2 RPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 2.3 SPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 6-0 (Perfect)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 1,071 games
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 15 seasons (1984-2003)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 2.3 APG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 5 MVP awards
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 10 scoring titles
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: $3 billion+
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 37.1
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 8.0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 1
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 30.1
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 50.5%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 6-0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 37.1 (1986-87)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 1,072
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 27.3%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 32,292 points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 5 DPOY awards
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 2.9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 6.2
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 32,292
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 9 selections
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 15 seasons (1984-1993, 1995-1998, 2001-2003)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 13 selections
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 65.4%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 33.4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 13
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 100%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 10
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A | Michael Jordan: 11.5 (6.2 RPG + 5.3 APG)
How to choose between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan
Compare Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Michael Jordan — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Michael Jordan. Contains 76 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Michael Jordan — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Michael Jordan.
Who is considered the greatest NBA player of all time?
Michael Jordan is widely considered the GOAT by most basketball analysts, sports journalists, and fans. A 2022 ESPN poll of 143 NBA experts ranked Jordan #1, with 78% selecting him as the greatest ever. His 6 championships, perfect 6-0 Finals record, 6 Finals MVP awards, and peak dominance establish him as the consensus GOAT. However, Kareem's 20-year consistency and all-time scoring record earn him top-5 consideration.
Why did Kareem only win 1 championship despite being the best scorer?
Kareem played primarily for the Milwaukee Bucks (1969-1975) before joining the Lakers. His Bucks era lacked supporting talent for sustained playoff runs. With the Lakers (1975-1989), he won 5 championships but shared dominance with Magic Johnson and role players. Jordan's advantage was playing on the championship-caliber Bulls with Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson's system, which maximized his competitive advantage. Kareem's era also featured stronger defensive centers who could contain him more effectively than Jordan's guards faced.
Jordan's peak (1990-1993) was statistically and competitively superior: 31.5 PPG, 6.9 APG, winning 3 consecutive championships with Finals averages of 33.4 PPG. Kareem's peak (1970-1974) averaged 30.5 PPG with one championship in 1971. Jordan's Finals performances were particularly dominant—he averaged 33.4 PPG in Finals series with a 6-0 record. Kareem was more efficient over his entire career but never achieved Jordan's concentrated excellence in the highest-pressure moments.
What were their key differences as players?
Kareem was a 7'2" center with the revolutionary skyhook—an unstoppable shot that evolved throughout his 20-year career. He was fundamentally sound, rarely injured, and exceptionally consistent. Jordan was a 6'6" guard with explosive athleticism, elite defense (9x All-Defensive), and clutch mentality. Jordan averaged 30.1 PPG compared to Kareem's 24.6 PPG, showing Jordan prioritized dominating in winning moments. Kareem accumulated more total points through volume over longevity; Jordan achieved higher efficiency and championship success in a shorter timeframe.
Both eras were exceptionally competitive, but the 1990s Bulls era is often considered more challenging due to defensive restrictions. Jordan faced elite perimeter defenders like Gary Payton, Scottie Pippen, and Doug Christie who played aggressive man-to-man defense. Kareem's era (1970s-80s) had defensive centers but less athletic versatility. Modern analysis suggests the 1990s required higher overall team competition, though Kareem faced more post-presence depth. Jordan's 6-0 Finals record against the Lakers (1991, 1992, 1993) demonstrated competitive dominance across different opponents.
How to Choose Between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan
Career Points Scored: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 38,387 points, while Michael Jordan has 32,292 points.
NBA Championships Won: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 1 championship (1971), while Michael Jordan has 6 championships (1991-1998).
MVP Awards: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 MVPs (record), while Michael Jordan has 5 MVPs.
Career Scoring Average: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 24.6 PPG, while Michael Jordan has 30.1 PPG.
NBA Finals Appearances: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 3 Finals (1 win), while Michael Jordan has 6 Finals (6 wins).
All-Star Selections: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 19 All-Star games, while Michael Jordan has 11 All-Star games.
Career Length: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 20 seasons (1969-1989), while Michael Jordan has 15 seasons (1984-1999).