A guy @6'9 278 pounds shouldnt be moving like this

[Tapeworm]

Jordan was a much better defensive player than Lebron will ever be, not even comparable.

I've never even heard of Lebron.  Must be 10 years since I watched a pro game.  I'm totally out of the loop, but I won't let that stop me forcing my opinion down everyone's throat.

I preferred college ball back in the day.  It was much more interesting for me to see a team move well together on both offense and defense than the pros who seemed to view defense as secondary and whose offense 4/5 times consisted of "give it to the star."

I don't believe any player is so incredible that you just can't stop him all game long.  Double up with a triangle & 2 (or do I recall a zone of any kind illegal in the pros?), or bring a man up from the weak side and force the offense to work the ball around.  Bah... I'm babbling.

Pro or college, basketball is definitely my spectator sport of choice.  Should probably get back to it.  I just think there should be less grooming of Nike stars and more team ball being played.  Of course, then the kids wouldn't know whose jersey to buy. 

[sculpture]

These guys have been strolling all over the court since the 80s.  The travelling rule is strictly optional.

I'd be more interested in these guys percentages than points per game.  Jordan was one of the greatest for sure, but as I remember the man ALWAYS had the ball.  Of course he scored more points than anyone else.  I'd be curious to see a comparison of points scored vs. time with the ball.  I bet Pippen would be way ahead, probably on percentages too.

Even more than that, show their overall stats to show who's the greatest, including defensive stats.  5 good players playing solid team ball will beat 5 great players playing for individual glory.  I haven't watched the NBA in years but it had turned into a game of star player vs star player, all offense, who can dunk with the greatest flourish, etc, last time I tuned in.
Sorry for the rant.  The old man is a Hoosier. 

This is true.

Characters like that carmelo anthony is a  classic example of a hotdog who doesnt really add much to team other than flashy moves

[Army of One]

I don't believe any player is so incredible that you just can't stop him all game long. 

Jordan and Shaq might have something to say about that.

[Tapeworm]

Jordan and Shaq might have something to say about that.

I'll agree that they weren't stopped.  That's what I mean.  Defense in the pros consisted of taking a rebound.

[Army of One]

I'll agree that they weren't stopped.  That's what I mean.  Defense in the pros consisted of taking a rebound.

The Pistons collapsed on Jordan, they still couldnt stop him, there are exceptions to every rule.

[jaejonna]

The Pistons collapsed on Jordan, they still couldnt stop him, there are exceptions to every rule.

Benard King of the Knicks shitted on the pistons too ...

[Army of One]

Benard King of the Knicks shitted on the pistons too ...

King didnt have a whole set of rules made up for him by the opposing team.

[CalvinH]

I second that remark ..

I third that remark...

[technokc]

Trust me Lebron would be good no matter what era he played in, but to say he would destroy the 80's players is ridiculous.

Many of todays guys are dunkers.  You think if you put Kobe, Lebron, Wade, etc. back in the 80's they would ever dunk on guys like Barkely, Ewing, Bird, Malone. . . . . . . hell even guys like Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason would knock these guys on their ass if they tried any of these highlight dunks you see everyday now.

[koolie1]

lebron is better the MJ was at the same age. He will be better overall then mj, the sport evolves man.

Thats the most assanine thing I have EVER heard. No one will be better than MJ, period.

[Tee_rex65]

Trust me Lebron would be good no matter what era he played in, but to say he would destroy the 80's players is ridiculous.

Many of todays guys are dunkers.  You think if you put Kobe, Lebron, Wade, etc. back in the 80's they would ever dunk on guys like Barkely, Ewing, Bird, Malone. . . . . . . hell even guys like Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason would knock these guys on their ass if they tried any of these highlight dunks you see everyday now.

I have to co-sign on this one! It was a different game back then. The guys today are definitely great players, but the rules have changed drastically. In the 80's, it was a warzone down in the paint.

[Necrosis]

Thats the most assanine thing I have EVER heard. No one will be better than MJ, period.

his stats are better at the same age.

[MuscleMcMannus]

NBA is a filled with a bunch of ghetto thugs and hoodrats.  Why would a self respecting white dude ever pay it any attention!   

[TechnoViking]

Not to take anything away from Lebron's dunk, but a foot and a half in from the free throw line is not a three throw line dunk...Although still impressive....

[slaveboy1980]

gretzky scored 92 goals back in 81/82. (reg season)

[Army of One]

his stats are better at the same age.

Lol no, Jordan was averaging 37 points a game at the same age as Lebron now, 3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as a GUARD

[Necrosis]

Lol no, Jordan was averaging 37 points a game at the same age as Lebron now, 3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as a GUARD

yes he averaged 37 points, close to three steal, 1.5 blocks, 4.5 ast and 5 boards a game at 23

lebron avg 30 points, 8 boards, over 7 ast, close to two steals, and a little over a block a game.

jordans stats are slightly better, i stand corrected.

[dario73]

totally different eras man, back then there were usually only 4-5 teams that competed every year, and the same teams were good year after year. theres a reason nobody has repeated since 2002-the competition is WAY beyond what it was.

think of it this way. put '86 larry bird in the league today, he'd do well but probably not great. put Lebron or Kobe in the 80's league, and they would fuckin dominate. i mean the 80's celtics were a model of fundamentally sound basketball, but they were ALL WHITE for gods sake, they would simply get hurt by the top teams today.

You don't know what the hell you are talking about. In the 80s and early 90s, the game was played at a higher level than it is today. Today, there are hardly any pro-player that can hit a mid range jumper or even great at the 3 point line. Today there is no such thing as defense. In the 80s and and 90s you had the Pistons, Knicks and a bunch of other teams who played air tight defense and if a player, even Jordan, got close to the rim he would get knocked on his ass. Today's game, with the hand checking rule and the weak defense by EVERY single team in the league, is a pussified version. 

You got it all wrong. If Lebron and Kobe played in the same era as Magic, Bird and Jordan, they wouldn't do anything. They would be good players but nothing out of the ordinary. Magic, Bird and Jordan, especially Jordan, would be absolutely toying with those 2 every single night. In today's game, with the weak defense that is so pervasive in the league, Jordan would be dropping a double nickel without breaking out a sweat.

How soon do you forget? It was just this past June in the NBA championship that Kobe did a disappearing act against the Celtics. Neither Magic, Bird nor Jordan would ever do that. No matter how good the oposing team was.

LoL. I would have liked to see Lebron try that same dunk against a prime Mailman, Rodman, Oakley, or Dawkins. Or God forbid against Barkley. HEHEHEHEHEH!!!