Bill Laimbeer’s Comments on Michael Jordan Are Misguided

Another NBA legend has recently added his two cents to the never-ending LeBron James versus Michael Jordan debate. Former player and two-time NBA champion Bill Laimbeer said on the Dan Patrick Show Thursday that James is a better player than Jordan ever was. However, Laimbeer didn’t issue a convincing argument when defending his statements, therefore his comments should be taken with a grain of salt. 

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Midway through his telephone interview on the Dan Patrick Show, host Dan Patrick asked Laimbeer whether Jordan or James was better in their respective primes. Laimbeer’s response to the question was the following.

"There’s no question I would take LeBron James. He can do more. Michael Jordan could score and make big shots and look spectacular at times with wild flying dunks, but LeBron can get you 18 rebounds, get you 15 assists or score 50 if he wants to. The triple threat he poses is just phenomenal, and the size, he just physically dominates. It’s impressive.Patrick followed up this response by stating that Jordan always found a way to win and was undefeated in the NBA Finals whereas LeBron has already faltered three times in championship series. Laimbeer provided the following rebuttal to this statement."

Patrick followed up this response by stating that Jordan always found a way to win and was undefeated in the NBA Finals, whereas LeBron has already faltered three times in championship series. Laimbeer provided the following rebuttal to this statement.

"Look at what LeBron has in the Finals right now. Could anybody else in the world have led this team of role players to the Finals right now? I don’t think so. Jordan could not have led this team to the Finals. LeBron came into the league knowing how to play basketball and involve his teammates. Jordan had to learn that, and they had to assemble some great teammates around him in order for him to win."

Laimbeer currently coaches the New York Liberty of the WNBA. He played in the NBA from 1979-1993 and was a four-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion.

Aug 16, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Liberty head coach Bill Laimbeer questions officials call during the second half against the Washington Mystics at the Prudential Center. Washington Mystics defeat the New York Liberty 66-57. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

During his career, Laimbeer and his Detroit Pistons frequently crossed paths with Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The two teams played in four consecutive playoff series between 1988-1991. The “Bad Boy Pistons”, as they were popularly referred to in those days, beat the Bulls in the first three of those playoffs series. However, in 1991 Jordan and the Bulls exacted their revenge on the Pistons by beating them in the Eastern Conference Finals en route to the first of their six championships in the 90’s.

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Laimbeer is the latest NBA legend to weigh in on the Jordan versus LeBron debate. Earlier this year, Alonzo Mourning said that Jordan could score 50 points on a nightly basis if he played in the modern day NBA. Another former Piston great, Isiah Thomas, joined the debate in February 2013. Unsurprisingly, Thomas had an unfavorable impression of his former rival Michael Jordan.

Two current Cavaliers players escalated the debate by stating that their teammate is better than Jordan. Center Kendrick Perkins says that once LeBron gets a few more rings he will solidify himself as better than Jordan.

"The only thing that he’s missing is a couple more championships and then it’s a wrap. Right now we have arguably the best player to ever play the game. I’m just saying man. I’m not taking anything away from Jordan, but all (James is) missing is titles. A couple of more titles and that’s it."

J.R Smith echoed these sentiments in his statement on the MJ versus LBJ debate.

"That’s one hell of a debate. Honestly, in my opinion, if it’s not Jordan then it’s him. It used to be no question. It was a landslide. It was Jordan. Now, you have to consider my boy."

Laimbeer’s recent contributions to the Jordan/James debate are incredibly misguided and probably stem from his continued resentment of his old rival even after all of these years. Let’s break down his statements to uncover why his arguments fall short.

“He can do more. Michael Jordan could score and make big shots and look spectacular at times with wild flying dunks, but LeBron can get you 18 rebounds, get you 15 assists or score 50 if he wants to.”

This is a common approach when people try to argue that LeBron is a better player than Jordan ever was. However, the fallacy in Laimbeer’s argument lies in the purely speculative way in which he presents it. It isn’t based on fact.

Aug 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Former basketball great Michael Jordan sits in Roger Federer

LeBron James has recorded ten 50+ point games in his twelve seasons in the NBA. However, he has averaged 27.3 points per game in his career, meaning he would almost have to double this total in order to put up 50 points per game. A stretch for sure.

According to The Examiner, James’ career high in rebounds (19) and assists (16) occurred in games that went into overtime. He needed extra time in order to record these numbers, which, by the way, are only one greater than what Laimbeer said he could record on a nightly basis “if he wanted to.”

Laimbeer is clearly reaching with his arguments, and giving LeBron more credit than he deserves. There isn’t a logical basis that would allow someone to justifiably conclude that LeBron could produce these numbers if he so desired. All three of the statistics that Laimbeer threw out there are only slightly higher than LeBron’s career highs meaning that even when he is at his absolute best, he still barely puts up these numbers.

Could anybody else in the world have led this team of role players to the Finals right now? I don’t think so. Jordan could not have led this team to the Finals.

Team of role players? Come on! Point guard Kyrie Irving is a three-time All-Star who scores over 21 points per game. Although he is hurt now, throughout the duration of the regular season LeBron received the assistance of another three-time All-Star in Kevin Love. In addition, sharp-shooting forward Smith was the NBA sixth man of the year as recently as 2013.

Jan 21, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) celebrates with forward Kevin Love (0) and forward LeBron James (23) in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron has more than enough in terms of teammates capable of helping him win. Yes, he does contribute significantly to the overall success of the team, but to say that he is doing it all alone as Laimbeer suggested is ignorant at best.

His argument further loses weight when he says that Jordan couldn’t have led this team [2015 Cleveland Cavaliers] to the NBA Finals. Again, a purely speculative argument based entirely on opinion not fact. In the interest of not repeating his mistake and presenting a purely subjective counterargument, I’m not going to try to speculate whether Jordan could or couldn’t lead the 2015 Cavaliers as far as LeBron did this season. Jordan no longer plays basketball, and hypothetically inserting him onto a modern NBA team  and predicting the result isn’t a credible way to make an argument.

Laimbeer’s arguments fall short because they are subjective in nature and refrain from using cold-hard facts to back up what is being said. Until LeBron retires, it is useless to compare careers between these two players. Once LeBron retires, the speculation in the argument is dramatically reduced because stats, accomplishments and accolades can be compared on an equal playing field.

In a recent article, Pippen Ain’t Easy writer Michael Whitlow provided a convincing reason for why the Jordan versus LeBron debate needs to end.

"But, one thing’s for sure: Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan. LeBron James is LeBron James. It’s not “Michael does this better” and “LeBron isn’t as good as MJ with (insert hoop skill). They’re the two most dominant players in two separate eras. Leave it at that."

Call me when LeBron retires. Then we can talk seriously and objectively about this debate.

Next: Would Michael Jordan Average 50 PPG? Not So Much

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