Prime LeBron James or Prime Magic Johnson

• newarkcatholicfan

  

  Who would you take?
• 2quik4u

  

  Yinka Dare
• Sage

  

  I've always thought this was the clear comparison to LBJ these days. In terms of size as well as game.
  
  LeBron was much more athletic due to his era, but Magic was much more skilled and could play all five positions. Something I have yet to see out of LBJ.
  
  I'd take Magic, but then again I'm clearly biased. I still contend Magic was better than MJ.
• hoops23

  

  Do you also think Magic is better than Kobe?
  
  I'm honestly with you on the Magic - MJ thing.
  
  People were/are so blinded by the MJ hype. He was GREAT no doubt, but to call him the greatest ever?
  
  Magic was an amazing player. As were Russell, Chamberlain, Dr. J, Oscar Robertson, Kareem, Hakeem, and several others...
• SQ_Crazies

  

  LeBron. It will be clear when it's all said and done--I'm not trying to take a single thing away from Magic. Definitely one of the greatest to ever play. I don't put him over Jordan because I do consider Jordan the GOAT--but he isn't far behind either.
• sleeper

  

  LTrain23 wrote: People were/are so blinded by the MJ hype. He was GREAT no doubt, but to call him the greatest ever?

  I don't think Jordan is the GOAT either.
  
  I never saw Magic Johnson play, so I have no idea, but I'll take Lebron.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Sage wrote:
  
  LeBron was much more athletic due to his era, but Magic was much more skilled and could play all five positions. Something I have yet to see out of LBJ.
  
  

  The only thing that I would question about Magic was his "set shot".....he didn't really have a pull up jumper, so I would question him being able to play the 2 spot. But he more than made up for that with that little baby hook that he used when he backed guys down. To me, Magic out finessed guys, where Lebron overpowers them.
  
  Right now, I would take Magic, but this will be fun to revisit in 5 years.
• devil1197

  Considering LeBron is not even halfway through his career and you are comparing him to one of the greatest is saying ALOT.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  ^Yeah I've been saying that for awhile now--that tells me all I need to know, just the fact that there is a debate. There has never been a SERIOUS debate this yearly in a players career like this--with the exception of Jordan and look how that turned out.
• HiddenGems

  LBJ debates on the upper echelon of NBA players ever is not fair to LBJ. He has not topped out yet and his career totals can't compare to MJ,Shaq,Magic and the lot.
  
  One thing that has been missing from these threads is concrete research. No career avg's or up to this age stats or accolades or anything.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I've done that research in the past and LeBron is right there with anybody--much better than most. I'd do it again, but I'm not really in the mood right now--maybe tomorrow.
• alwaysafan

  Jordan is the greatest player in the sense that he completely transcended the game more than any other NBA player--ever. Some consider him the greatest athlete ever as well. It really was the perfect storm: talent, media market, championships, coach, marketing, rise of the superstar (as opposed to team). It is not the fault of other players that they were not in his position--it just is what it is.
  
  Whether Jordan was the most talented is more up for debate. I am not quite sure on this yet.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Jordan is the GOAT IMO. Greatest athlete in NBA history goes to Wilt IMO, and that really isn't even close for me.
• hoops23

  

  HiddenGems wrote: LBJ debates on the upper echelon of NBA players ever is not fair to LBJ. He has not topped out yet and his career totals can't compare to MJ,Shaq,Magic and the lot.
  
  One thing that has been missing from these threads is concrete research. No career avg's or up to this age stats or accolades or anything.

  Well, I've done the research of Kobe, MJ, and LeBron within their first 7 years back on the old huddle when the big debate was going on...
  
  The results?
  
  LeBron was > both within the first 7 years of his career. Jordan has him beat in PPG by about 1, almost 2 points and LeBron has MJ beat in APG, RPG, and I think FG%.. I could be wrong about the FG% though..
  
  LeBron was > Kobe in just about EVERY category, including PPG, RPG, and APG.. He also shoots a better % from the field, and has shot better from 3 as well.
• JakeGiant

  Magic, and yes, I have Magic>Kobe.
• Skyhook79

  

  This is laughable. Comparing Lebron who has ZERO Titles to 3 guys who have 15 between them.
  Stats don't tell half the story. Magic could have averaged 30 ppg if he wanted to.
• Trueblue23

  

  Let's not forget that Magic's career was cut short..
  
  I've always said that if you forget about stats, awards and all of that shit, the top 10 is VERY different than most people would see it. Honestly, do you REALLY think there are TEN players in the history of the NBA better than Kobe and LeBron??! I sure as hell do not.
• Skyhook79

  

  Trueblue23 wrote: Let's not forget that Magic's career was cut short..
  
  I've always said that if you forget about stats, awards and all of that shit, the top 10 is VERY different than most people would see it. Honestly, do you REALLY think there are TEN players in the history of the NBA better than Kobe and LeBron??! I sure as hell do not.

  Wilt
  Kareem
  MJ
  Magic
  Bird
  Oscar
  Shaq
  Dr J
  Russell
  West
• SQ_Crazies

  

  ^No.
• Jesus Christ

  Prime Muggsy Bogues.