For years now and for years to come, Michael Jordan and LeBron James have always had their names brought up in the debate over the greatest basketball player of all time.
While debating the topic with NBA analyst Ric Bucher, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho had a rather unique take on the Jordan vs. James debate.
Acho Argues Michael Jordan’s Seasons Outside His 10-Year Peak Don’t Get Brought Up
On “The Facility,” Acho mentioned that Jordan’s supporters ignore the fact that Jordan played in other NBA seasons besides his 10-year dominance.
“Michael Jordan played for more than just from 1990 to 1999,” he said. “He did play ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88. He did lose to the Pistons. I’m not making this up, so how come we exclude the beginning years, we exclude the Wizards years, and we only talk about them 10?”
Acho elaborated more on Jordan’s time with the Wizards, from 2001 to 2003, to explain how he compares unfavorably to James playing for the Lakers around a similar age.
“Michael Jordan at 39, 40, we saw them Wizards years. Shout out to a 55-point game here and there, but he wasn’t doing 26, eight, and eight, so we have to also acknowledge the fact that LeBron James is still doing it at a significantly higher clip,” Acho said.
When people compare Jordan to LeBron, they conveniently mention only the Jordan years that fit the argument.
“That 10 year period where Jordan won 10 scoring titles…you just can’t beat that.” –@RicBucher
“But what about all the other years!?” 🤬 -Me
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) March 6, 2025
Jordan, at 39 years old, was actually playing at a high level in his first season with the Wizards before a knee injury got in the way mid-season. However, it is true that when fans debate this topic, they ignore the years he played for the Wizards and ignore when Jordan struggled during his earlier days.
In fact, in Jordan’s younger days, he was criticized primarily for winning scoring titles but not NBA titles. It was only after his supporting cast improved (with Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson) that Jordan started finding success in the playoffs.
For what it’s worth, James went a similar route when he joined the Miami Heat. It wasn’t until he was surrounded by Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Erik Spoelstra that he started seeing playoff success.
This may go down as perhaps the most subjective debate in NBA history. Longevity, peak, and supporting cast all factor into how those who talk about Jordan vs. James feel about how those two stack up.
What’s undeniable is that both were the two biggest icons in NBA history who dominated for years in their own fashion. The better way to approach it may be to appreciate how these two helped make the NBA an entertainment powerhouse for decades.