Michael Jordan won 6 NBA championships with a 33.4 PPG playoff average and perfect 6-0 Finals record, while LeBron James has won 4 championships, appeared in 10 Finals, and holds the all-time NBA scoring record with 40,361 points. Jordan's peak dominance was unmatched, but LeBron's longevity and all-around impact across multiple teams represent different forms of greatness.
Michael Jordan vs LeBron James — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Chicago Bulls legend with 6 championships and 5 MVPs (1984-2003)
Forward/guard who played 21 seasons (2003-2024) for four teams, becoming NBA's all-time leading scorer with 4 championships and 4 MVPs.
NBA Championships. Finals Record. All-Time Scoring. Career PPG. Playoff PPG. MVP Awards. All-Star Appearances
Michael Jordan wins on peak dominance, championship perfection, and scoring efficiency—his 6-0 Finals record and 33.4 playoff PPG remain unmatched. LeBron James wins on longevity, all-time scoring volume, and versatility—playing at an elite level for 21 seasons across three franchises. Choose Jordan if you value peak excellence and clutch Finals performance; choose LeBron if you value sustained excellence, scoring volume, and all-around basketball impact.
Michael Jordan: 32,292 | LeBron James: 40,361
Michael Jordan: 5 | LeBron James: 4 MVPs
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: 13 | LeBron James: 19 All-Stars
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: 6 | LeBron James: 4 championships
Michael Jordan: 6 | LeBron James: 10 Finals (4 wins)
Michael Jordan: 32,292 | LeBron James: 40,511 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: 10 | LeBron James: 10 selections
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: 31.4 PPG (2009-10)
Michael Jordan: N/A | LeBron James: 21 seasons (2003-2024)
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
Michael Jordan vs LeBron James — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Michael Jordan vs LeBron James. Contains 106 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Michael Jordan vs LeBron James — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Michael Jordan vs LeBron James.
Who is the better basketball player, Michael Jordan or LeBron James?
This depends on your criteria. By peak performance and championship perfection, Jordan is superior—his 6-0 Finals record, 33.4 playoff PPG, and 5 MVPs remain unmatched. By longevity and all-around impact, LeBron is superior—his 40,361 all-time points, 21-season career, and 10 Finals appearances show sustained excellence. Most analysts rank Jordan #1 all-time due to his dominance, but the gap has narrowed as LeBron extended his elite career.
Did Michael Jordan ever lose in the Finals?
No. Michael Jordan's Finals record is a perfect 6-0 across 6 championship runs (1991-1993, 1996-1998). He never lost a Finals series, which remains one of basketball's most impressive statistical achievements and a key factor in his GOAT (Greatest of All Time) discussion.
Why does LeBron have more all-time points than Michael Jordan?
LeBron played 21 NBA seasons compared to Jordan's 15 seasons (6 extra years of scoring). Additionally, LeBron has played in an era with more games per season and longer playing careers in general. Despite averaging 2.9 fewer PPG than Jordan, his longer career allowed him to surpass Jordan's scoring total in February 2023. This illustrates the difference between peak dominance (Jordan) and sustained excellence (LeBron).
How many times did Michael Jordan and LeBron James play against each other?
Michael Jordan and LeBron James never faced each other in the NBA. Jordan retired in 1998 (with a brief 2001-2003 comeback), while LeBron entered the league in 2003. They were separated by approximately 5 years, making direct competition impossible during their respective primes.
Who was more clutch in the Finals—Jordan or LeBron?
By statistics, Michael Jordan was more clutch in the Finals. He averaged 33.4 PPG in the playoffs with a perfect 6-0 Finals record, showing he elevated his game when it mattered most. LeBron averaged 28.7 PPG in the playoffs with a 4-6 Finals record. However, LeBron's 2013 Finals MVP performance against the San Antonio Spurs and 2016 Finals comeback against the Golden State Warriors are among basketball's most clutch Finals performances, suggesting clutch performance extends beyond raw statistics.
How to Choose Between Michael Jordan and LeBron James
NBA Championships: Michael Jordan has 6, while LeBron James has 4.
Finals Record: Michael Jordan has 6-0 (Perfect), while LeBron James has 4-6 (40% win rate).
All-Time Scoring: Michael Jordan has 32,292 points, while LeBron James has 40,361 points.
Career PPG: Michael Jordan has 30.1 PPG, while LeBron James has 27.2 PPG.
Playoff PPG: Michael Jordan has 33.4 PPG, while LeBron James has 28.7 PPG.
MVP Awards: Michael Jordan has 5, while LeBron James has 4.
All-Star Appearances: Michael Jordan has 13, while LeBron James has 20.