Pippen: "LeBron > MJ"

[illmatic99]

Was listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN radio here in Philly my way to work. He said MJ is the "greatest scorer ever," but "LeBron may be the greatest ever to play the game."

TBH, outside of the hardware and leadership (which the next interviewee, Brent Musburger) was talking about, I don't think MJ has anything on LBJ. Am I off base here?

 

[Sex Panther]

Physically speaking, no one matches Lebron but young Shaq and a young Wilt.

He's better than Jordan right now, but if he wins some championships and continues to play the way he does for another 5 seasons, he will be.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

wilt > all

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

LaBron minus D-Wade and Bosch = no titles.

I think James is going to be a great player, and maybe even top 5 all time when all is said and done.

 

[ABM]

LaBron minus D-Wade and Bosch = no titles.

Quantum stretch.

 

[illmatic99]

LaBron minus D-Wade and Bosch = no titles.

In that sense, you could possibly say that MJ- Pippen = no titles as well.

 

[maxiep]

LeBron is more physically talented than MJ, but physical talent isn't what made MJ great. LeBron can't touch the will to win and the willingness to work to get better than Jordan had. And it's above the neck that outweighs what's below it that gives the edge to Jordan.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

wilt > all

Hey! We agree.

 

[Wheels]

LeBron is more physically talented than MJ, but physical talent isn't what made MJ great. LeBron can't touch the will to win and the willingness to work to get better than Jordan had. And it's above the neck that outweighs what's below it that gives the edge to Jordan.

QFT

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Wilt was the SINGLE BEST overall player the game has ever seen. Look up how many rule changes came into being after 1960 to LIMIT his impact on other teams. He just didn't win alot of titles.
MJ is probably the second best player all time.

Lebron will join the discussion in the coming years.

My List for best player - even for one day, not entire career, not just based upon career numbers, titles, etc.:

Wilt Chamberlain
Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
Kobe Bryant

I kinda think that the players on this list should have the following achievements: MVP, All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA Title on their shelf!!!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Wilt was the SINGLE BEST overall player the game has ever seen. Look up how many rule changes came into being after 1960 to LIMIT his impact on other teams. He just didn't win alot of titles.
MJ is probably the second best player all time.

Lebron will join the discussion in the coming years.

My List for best player - even for one day, not entire career, not just based upon career numbers, titles, etc.:

Wilt Chamberlain
Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
Kobe Bryant

I kinda think that the players on this list should have the following achievements: MVP, All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA Title on their shelf!!!

too many lakers

 

[mook]

Amazing to hear that from Pippen. Amazing.

 

[illmatic99]

Here's a podcast of that interview, btw: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=6599168

 

[LittleAlex]

LeBron is more physically talented than MJ, but physical talent isn't what made MJ great. LeBron can't touch the will to win and the willingness to work to get better than Jordan had. And it's above the neck that outweighs what's below it that gives the edge to Jordan.

Exactly.

MJ treated games against the Clippers in December the same way he treated games against the Jazz in June.
MJ had the talent AND an absurd need to win that borders on the psychotic.

Once LeBron proves that he wants his 5th title as bad as he wants his first then he will be the best ever.
Otherwise, nope.

 

[magnifier661]

LaBron minus D-Wade and Bosch = no titles.

I think James is going to be a great player, and maybe even top 5 all time when all is said and done.

Jordan minus Pippen and Rodman or Pippen and Grant = 0 championships also.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

It will NEVER matter what Lebron James does in basketball hence forth because he'll never have done it on his own! Lebron had to join with another MVP of the league and another allstar to win anything. Pippen was a great sidekick to Jordan but he certainly wasn't the MVP of the league with a ring already before joining Jordan. Throw in Bosh and Lebron's legacy will always have an asterik next to it. Lebron needed essentially two of the allstar east players in their prime to get it done. Jordan did not!!!!

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I don't remember Grant or Rodman ever being allstars.... I think having an MVP of the league in Wade who already has a ring might be an upgrade...

 

[Minstrel]

James and Jordan are about the same level of player. James' supporting casts til now were pathetic, not at all comparable to teams Jordan won championships with. In terms of production, defense and ability to impose his will upon other teams, no matter how good the opponent, James is pretty equal to Jordan.

I'd put Jordan ahead of James in all-time rankings due to Jordan's longer career but, barring injury, I expect to view James on the candidate shortlist for greatest ever, along with Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Jordan never quit on his teams in the playoffs, like Kobe and LeBron have done. That's it in a nutshell right there.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't remember Grant or Rodman ever being allstars.... I think having an MVP of the league in Wade who already has a ring might be an upgrade...

Both Grant and Rodman were allstars the years Bulls won the title.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't remember Grant or Rodman ever being allstars.... I think having an MVP of the league in Wade who already has a ring might be an upgrade...

Not only was Rodman a 2-time all-star, but he was also a 2-time DPOY and is a hall-of-famer. And D-Wade has never been MVP (except of the '06 finals).

Both Grant and Rodman were allstars the years Bulls won the title.

Rodman was never an all-star while with the Bulls--only with the Pistons.

 

[magnifier661]

Both Grant and Rodman were allstars the years Bulls won the title.

Oops, Rodman wasn't an allstar on the Bulls. Neither was Grant. My mistake! Wow I'm gonna leave. I'm not doing so well today! LOL

 

[Denny Crane]

Pippin now works for the NBA in management (Bulls management).

I'd take what he says with a grain of salt - intended to sell more Bulls and Heat tickets next season.

MJ didn't have lebron's physical size but was a far better player. Hands down.

 

[PapaG]

My List for best player - even for one day, not entire career, not just based upon career numbers, titles, etc.:

Wilt Chamberlain
Michael Jordan
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
Kobe Bryant

I kinda think that the players on this list should have the following achievements: MVP, All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA Title on their shelf!!!

Magic and Bryant have never won a DPOY award between them. Should we take them off of the list and add Bill Russell? Or, leave them on the list and add Larry Bird, Shaq, and Tim Duncan?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

david robinson

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I will never view this Heat team as anything more than 3 great players that couldn't get it done on their own! It saddens me that these three clowns have created a norm that will produce three or four more super teams to be assembled and the rest of the NBA will never be able to FAIRLY compete! New York- Melo, Amare, Paul... Miami- Wade, Bosh, Lebron ... Lakers- Kobe, Howard and Gasol.... Geez!!! D Rose and the Bulls should pick up KD and Blake and the rest of the NBA need not show up. This is exactly what's going to happen! How much of a chance do you really think Portland will ever have of beating these Heat in a NBA finals no matter how good we get for the next five years? I guess my question is would you rather have a sport or buy a Jersey? Clearly a NBA run by Stern is one where the sport comes second and that's why the heat are unbeatable, they have Stern and his refs in their back pocket. Last nights game showed the writing on the wall for the next five years! The NBA needs to be renamed the NBE cause folks you're now watching entertainment, the sport has left the arena!

 

[mook]

I will never view this Heat team as anything more than 3 great players that couldn't get it done on their own!

It depends. If the Heat at some point have eclipse the 72 win season record, I think it's entirely possible that the stigma you describe (particularly for LeBron) goes away.

And I still think that kind of scoring record is possible. The Heat scrapped together the best odds and ends they could find to put around the Big Three this year, and it didn't really go that great. Their bench right now is basically Haslem and Miller and that's about it. What is that team going to look like in a year or two when they have time to cobble together better spare parts?

 

[Stevenson]

wilt > all

I so agree - not many people know this.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Lebron had to go to a superstar that had a ring to win one. Jordan did not! Same is true for Bosh! I could see players they have around them on the bench retiring and they'll be another whole wave of players who will always want to ride on Wade and Lebrons coatails. I worry Oden ends up in Miami and than his potential becomes reality and then OH MAN!!!!

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I so agree - not many people know this.

I agree. Wilt changed the game in ways that are still felt today.