OT: Durant vs 'Bron vs Jordan

[THE HCP]

I keep trying to come up with reasons to NOT give KD props, but this guy is absolutely amazing! Here are Durant's, LeBron's and His Airness' numbers for their 7th season.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

honk twice

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

1. Jordan
2. LeBron
...
3. Durant

 

[santeesioux]

Sucks for him he's only going to win scoring titles while Greg Oden wins his 15 championships.

 

[Natebishop3]

I would still take Jordan over those two, any day, and twice on Sunday.

 

[maxiep]

What isn't reflected are two things about MJ: First, he wasn't just a good defender, but an elite one. Second, he was a better leader than those two.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I still think the closest to Jordan is Kobe.

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

I still think the closest to Jordan is Kobe.

Yeah, Kobe mindset and playing style is a carbon copy to Jordan. There a youtube video somewhere showing highlights of each other and every play looked the same to Jordan. I don't like Kobe but I can respect his game. I'm just glad we have players after Jordan that we can argue if they are better.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Durant is more closer to Dominique Wilkins.

 

[blue9]

And LBJ is more like Magic.

 

[THE HCP]

Durant is more closer to Dominique Wilkins.

A lot of people were saying that SEVEN years ago. I bet 'Nique had 3 dimes in his WHOLE career!

 

[Hobbesarable]

Yeah, Kobe mindset and playing style is a carbon copy to Jordan. There a youtube video somewhere showing highlights of each other and every play looked the same to Jordan. I don't like Kobe but I can respect his game. I'm just glad we have players after Jordan that we can argue if they are better.

Jordan made a funny quote about Kobe stealing all of his moves.

[video=youtube;lvJiYEJpSZk]

 

[oldguy]

Wilkins didin't dominate anything like Durant does. More highlight reels than KD, but he wasn't near Durant's talent.

Agree with those above that said MJ, LJ....KD.

Go Blazers

 

[KingSpeed]

What isn't reflected are two things about MJ: First, he wasn't just a good defender, but an elite one. Second, he was a better leader than those two.

This. Jordan won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

 

[Rhal]

Durant isn't the same defender or leader as MJ was or that LBJ is. LBJ gets a lot of crap for leaving Cleveland and just what he couldn't do with that cleveland roster but I look at it the other way. Its just amazing what LBJ did with that Cleveland roster.
Could either LBJ or Durant bring themselves to the same tier as MJ? Sure they both have the otherworldly talent but its not something we will know until after their careers are done.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Jordan was so clutch. I'll always be a huge fan. Lebron is close but I agree hes more like magic than jordan. Durrant might have better nubers but he's not sharing rebounds with rodman. Jordan was a better defender, leader, and teammate.

 

[blue32]

Jordan baby. My god he gets up there. Is it my eyes playing tricks on me because of the short shorts, or what!

 

[blue9]

Oh, and if we're making comparisons I'll say Durant is more like T-Mac.

 

[Denny Crane]

Jordan's PER was 2+ points higher than Durant, and he was a DPOY candidate. Durant hasn't made 2nd team all defense.

LeBron is amazing for his size. He has Karl Malone's body (height, weight) and Pippen's defense and rebounding and assists. I think the Malone comparison is a good one. Malone was the better rebounder, LeBron the point guard skills. Both MVP and all nba 1st team defense. Both great outside shooters.

Mailman didn't deliver a championship. But he did put up a 27+ PER at age 36 and 24+ at age 37.

Jordan scored 60+ five times. LeBron once, Durant never. Jordan played PG, primary ball handler role, for most of a season. He averaged 32.5/8/8 with ~3 steals. Jordan had 15 triple doubles that season, only 25 for his whole career. 32.5/8/8 is near triple double for the whole season.

The Bulls won 6 championships with Jordan. None without him. He missed 2 seasons between two threepeats or it may well have been 8 straight. Pippen missed a key game 7 against Detroit the season before or it might have been 9. That's Bill Russell territory.

The Bulls won their final championship with 34 year old Jordan, 36 year old Rodman, 34 year old Harper, and 32 year old Pippen. I'm not sure any team has ever broken up a dynasty after winning a championship. If they stayed together, they may have won another or two.

At age 39, Jordan had a 19+ PER for Washington, and I figure he was still a top 15 player in the league. That was 6 years later. Pippen was the Blazers' starting PG that season (beat out Stoudemire) and led the team to a 52-30 record.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

So you are saying Michael Jordan was good at basketball?

 

[Boise Blazer]

So you are saying Michael Jordan was good at basketball?

Ive heard that Michael "M" Jordan was good.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Michael is the best out of those three. Until Durant delivers a championship (not on Oden's watch! ) or LeBron delivers four more, Michael will continue to be the best of those three.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Pippen still did more without Jordan the Jordan did without Pippen.

 

[maxiep]

In a twisted way, MJ's greatness diminished Clyde's reputation. He was always the second best SG. Without MJ, Clyde would have gotten a lot more recognition.

 

[maxiep]

Pippen still did more without Jordan the Jordan did without Pippen.

Yeah, because the Rockets w/ Barkley and the Jail Blazers were the same talent level as the Wiz.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yeah, because the Rockets w/ Barkley and the Jail Blazers were the same talent level as the Wiz.

When did you ever see Jordan lead the Bulls to 55 wins without Pippen while earning All-Star Game MVP honors and led the Bulls in scoring, assists, and blocks, and the league in steals, averaging 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, while shooting 49.1% from the field and a career-best 32% from the 3-point line. For his efforts, he earned the first of three straight All-NBA First Team selections, and he finished third in MVP voting in which he got snubbed by Karl Malone.

 

[maxiep]

When did you ever see Jordan lead the Bulls to 55 wins without Pippen while earning All-Star Game MVP honors and led the Bulls in scoring, assists, and blocks, and the league in steals, averaging 22.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, while shooting 49.1% from the field and a career-best 32% from the 3-point line. For his efforts, he earned the first of three straight All-NBA First Team selections, and he finished third in MVP voting in which he got snubbed by Karl Malone.

Yeah, that's right. It was Pippen that was the Bulls best player. You nailed it.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1988.html

Bulls went 50-32. Pippen was a rookie who played 20 minutes a game. He averaged 7/4/2.