Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won 6 NBA championships and 6 MVP awards compared to LeBron James' 4 championships and 4 MVPs, but LeBron played 3 additional seasons and won an NBA Cup MVP that Kareem never achieved. Kareem dominated as a rebounder with 1 rebounding title, while LeBron has been more versatile across multiple positions.
LeBron James vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
All-around forward and the NBA's most durable two-way player with 4 championships across 3 teams
Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers center (1969-1989) with 6 MVP awards and 38,387 career points.
NBA Championships Won. Season MVP Awards. NBA Career Seasons. NBA Cup MVP Awards. Rebounding Titles (League Leader). Playing Style Versatility. Career Longevity at Elite Level
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar achieved greater individual accolades with 6 championships and 6 MVP awards during his 20-season career, establishing himself as the most dominant player of his era with an iconic skyhook. LeBron James' 23-season career demonstrates unparalleled longevity and versatility across positions, with his NBA Cup MVP representing his ability to perform on the biggest stages. Choose Kareem if valuing peak dominance and individual hardware; choose LeBron if valuing sustained excellence, positional versatility, and career longevity.
LeBron James: 40,361 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387
LeBron James: 4 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 10,921 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 20 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 0
LeBron James: 1,295 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 27.2 PPG career (through 2026) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 28.3 PPG (2025-26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 8.5 APG (2025-26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 8.3 RPG (2025-26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 MVPs | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 Championships | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 10 Finals appearances | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 66.7% TS% (2025-26) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 23 seasons (2003-2026) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 6'9" (206cm) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 20 All-Star selections | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 19 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 19
LeBron James: 31.4 PPG (2009-10) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 27.2 PPG | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 21 seasons (2003-2024) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 21 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 20 seasons
LeBron James: 1 NBA Cup MVP | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 0 NBA Cup MVPs
LeBron James: 0 titles | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1 title
LeBron James: Guard, Forward, Center (multi-position) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Center (position-specific)
LeBron James: 2003-2026 (modern 3-point era) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1969-1989 (pre-3-point era emphasis)
LeBron James: 40,361 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 19 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 50.5% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 22 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 272.5 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 50.2% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 55.9%
LeBron James: 13 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 1,364 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 34.5% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 1
LeBron James: 27.2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 31.4 (2005-06) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 1 DPOY award | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 20 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 20
LeBron James: 40,474 points | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4-6 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 MVP awards | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 7.1 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 7.5 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 10 selections | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 58.7% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 6'9" | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6 championships
LeBron James: 10 Finals (4 wins) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 27.2 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 24.6
LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 2
LeBron James: 6 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 40,511 points | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 34.4% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 10 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 3
LeBron James: 21 seasons | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 40,361 points | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 40,361 points | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387
LeBron James: 4 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 6
LeBron James: 40% (4 of 10 Finals) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 1,610 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 19 (of 21) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 20+ | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 40% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 28.7 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 17.9 (10.5 RPG + 7.4 APG) | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 73.5% | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 10,911 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: N/A
LeBron James: 4 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 3
LeBron James: N/A | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 20
LeBron James: N/A | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 24.6
How to choose between LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Compare LeBron James vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
LeBron James vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for LeBron James vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Contains 85 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
LeBron James vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for LeBron James vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Who has more NBA championships, LeBron or Kareem?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 NBA championships compared to LeBron James' 4 championships. Kareem won his titles primarily with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, while LeBron won his with the Miami Heat (2 titles), Cleveland Cavaliers (1 title), and Los Angeles Lakers (1 title).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won 6 regular season MVP awards, the most in NBA history at the time of comparison. LeBron James has won 4 regular season MVP awards. However, LeBron won 1 NBA Cup MVP (Finals MVP in modern format), while Kareem never won that specific award.
LeBron James played 23 seasons from 2003-2026, making him one of the longest-tenured elite performers in NBA history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons from 1969-1989. LeBron's additional 3 seasons allowed him to accumulate more total statistics despite fewer championships and MVPs.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the superior rebounder, winning 1 league rebounding title during his career as a dominant NBA center. LeBron James never led the league in rebounding, though he has been an excellent rebounder for his positions (guard/forward). Kareem's size and position gave him advantages in the paint.
Which player had better longevity and consistency?
LeBron James demonstrated superior longevity, maintaining All-Star caliber performance for 23 seasons through 2026, including competitive seasons in his 39-40 age range (2024-2026). Kareem played 20 elite seasons with peak dominance in the 1970s-80s but did not maintain the same level into his later years. LeBron's ability to adapt positions and modern training methods contributed to his extended prime.
How to Choose Between LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
NBA Championships Won: LeBron James has 4 championships, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 championships.
Season MVP Awards: LeBron James has 4 MVPs, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 6 MVPs.
NBA Career Seasons: LeBron James has 23 seasons (2003-2026), while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 20 seasons (1969-1989).
NBA Cup MVP Awards: LeBron James has 1 award, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 0 awards.
Consider: Rebounding Titles (League Leader)
Rebounding Titles (League Leader): LeBron James has 0 rebounding titles, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 1 rebounding title.
Playing Style Versatility: LeBron James has Multi-position (Guard/Forward), while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has Center-focused position.
Consider: Career Longevity at Elite Level
Career Longevity at Elite Level: LeBron James has 23 seasons maintaining All-Star caliber, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has 20 seasons with peak dominance in 1970s-80s.