Michael Jordan won 6 NBA championships with a 6-0 Finals record and higher peak performance metrics, while LeBron James has won 4 championships across 3 teams and played at an elite level for 20+ seasons with greater longevity and versatility.
LeBron James vs Michael Jordan — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Chicago Bulls legend with 6 championships and 5 MVPs (1984-2003)
Modern era pioneer with 4 championships across three teams (2003-2023)
NBA Championships. Finals Appearance Record. Career Length at Elite Level. Career PPG Average. Career Total Points. Peak Performance (Best Season PPG). Teams Won Championships With
Michael Jordan edges LeBron for peak dominance, Finals perfection, and highest scoring average, making him statistically the greatest at his prime. Choose Jordan if you value championship perfection and peak performance; choose LeBron if you prioritize longevity, versatility across positions, and sustained excellence over two decades.
Michael Jordan: 32,292 | LeBron James: 40,361
Michael Jordan: 5,633 | LeBron James: 10,452
Michael Jordan: 6,672 | LeBron James: 10,452 rebounds
Michael Jordan: 33.5 PPG | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 83.4% | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 32.7% | LeBron James: 34.4%
Michael Jordan: 13× All-Star | LeBron James: 19
Michael Jordan: 6.2 RPG | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 2.3 SPG | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 6-0 (Perfect) | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 1,071 games | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 15 seasons (1984-2003) | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 2.3 APG | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 5 MVP awards | LeBron James: 4
Michael Jordan: 10 scoring titles | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: $3 billion+ | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 37.1 | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 30.1 | LeBron James: 27.2
Michael Jordan: 5 MVPs | LeBron James: 4 MVPs
Michael Jordan: 50.5% | LeBron James: 50.5%
Michael Jordan: 15 | LeBron James: 21 seasons
Michael Jordan: 1,072 | LeBron James: 1,610
Michael Jordan: 27.3% | LeBron James: 34.4%
Michael Jordan: 32,292 points | LeBron James: 40,474 points
Michael Jordan: 5 MVP awards | LeBron James: 4 MVP awards
Michael Jordan: 5 DPOY awards | LeBron James: 1 DPOY award
Michael Jordan: 32,292 | LeBron James: 20,108 points
Michael Jordan: 6 | LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs
Michael Jordan: 9 selections | LeBron James: 6
Michael Jordan: 50.3% | LeBron James: 50.2%
Michael Jordan: 13 selections | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 32,292 points | LeBron James: 40,361 points
Michael Jordan: 30.1 | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 65.4% | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 33.4 | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 37.1 (1986-87) | LeBron James: N/A
Michael Jordan: 100% | LeBron James: 40%
Michael Jordan: 32,292 | LeBron James: 40,474
Michael Jordan: 33.4 | LeBron James: 28.7
Michael Jordan: 11.5 (6.2 RPG + 5.3 APG) | LeBron James: 17.9 (10.5 RPG + 7.4 APG)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 1,295
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 27.2 PPG career (through 2026)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 28.3 PPG (2025-26)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 8.5 APG (2025-26)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 8.3 RPG (2025-26)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 4 MVPs
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 4 Championships
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 10 Finals appearances
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 4 Finals MVPs
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 66.7% TS% (2025-26)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 23 seasons (2003-2026)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 6'9" (206cm)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 20 All-Star selections
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 1 NBA Cup MVP
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 0 titles
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: Guard, Forward, Center (multi-position)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 2003-2026 (modern 3-point era)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 40,361
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 272.5
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 1,364
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 50.5%
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 34.5%
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 58.7%
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 6'9"
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 21 seasons
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 40% (4 of 10 Finals)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 19 (of 21)
How to choose between Michael Jordan and LeBron James
LeBron James vs Michael Jordan — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for LeBron James vs Michael Jordan. Contains 104 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
LeBron James vs Michael Jordan — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for LeBron James vs Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan is widely considered the GOAT by most analysts and historians due to his perfect 6-0 Finals record, 5 MVP awards, and highest peak performance metrics. However, LeBron James has strong arguments based on longevity, versatility, and all-time scoring leadership. The debate depends on whether you prioritize peak excellence or sustained greatness.
Why is Jordan's Finals record better than LeBron's?
Jordan went 6-0 in Finals (100% win rate) across 6 championship runs with the Bulls, never losing when it mattered most. LeBron is 10-4 in Finals (71.4%), losing 4 times despite 10 appearances. This 28.6-point swing in Finals success rate is often cited as Jordan's greatest advantage in the GOAT debate.
LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer with 40,474 career points compared to Jordan's 32,292. However, Jordan averaged 30.1 PPG versus LeBron's 27.2 PPG, meaning Jordan scored more per game despite playing fewer seasons. LeBron's longevity enabled him to accumulate more total points.
Michael Jordan won 5 MVP awards, tied for the most in NBA history (matching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell). LeBron James won 4 MVP awards, making him one of only a few players with multiple MVPs. Jordan's edge here reflects his dominance during his peak years.
Did LeBron's championships with multiple teams make him greater?
LeBron winning 4 titles across 3 different teams (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers) is historically rare and demonstrates adaptability and leadership. Jordan won all 6 with the Bulls, showing unparalleled loyalty and consistency with one organization. Both accomplishments are impressive but represent different paths to greatness—LeBron's requires proving yourself with different rosters, Jordan's demonstrates the ultimate single-team dynasty.
How to Choose Between Michael Jordan and LeBron James
NBA Championships: Michael Jordan has 6 titles, while LeBron James has 4 titles.
Finals Appearance Record: Michael Jordan has 6-0 (100%), while LeBron James has 10-4 (71.4%).
Career Length at Elite Level: Michael Jordan has 13 seasons, while LeBron James has 20 seasons.
Career PPG Average: Michael Jordan has 30.1 PPG, while LeBron James has 27.2 PPG.
Career Total Points: Michael Jordan has 32,292 points, while LeBron James has 40,474 points.
Consider: Peak Performance (Best Season PPG)
Peak Performance (Best Season PPG): Michael Jordan has 37.1 PPG (1989-90), while LeBron James has 31.4 PPG (2013-14).
Teams Won Championships With: Michael Jordan has 1 team (Chicago Bulls), while LeBron James has 3 teams (Miami, Cleveland, LA).