BY CHRISTIAN SZALAY

The Akron native, LeBron James, is paving his way to become the greatest basketball player ever, surpassing the great Michael Jordan. Some will say he is not even in the same tier as Jordan, but the let’s let facts speak for themselves.

To start things off, James entered the league being drafted number one overall, and was only a young 18 year old, and immediately emerged as a young star. Averaging 20 points and 5 assists per game and receiving the NBA Rookie of the year Award, James showed he could play with the best of them while only being a teenager.

Michael Jordan, however, was drafted the third overall pick as a 21 year old. Winning the NBA Rookie of the year Award, Jordan had a very impressive rookie campaign totalling 28 points and 5 assists per game.

Jordan had joined a very talented young Chicago team while James joined a very bad Cleveland team, which only won 17 games in 2002. He had to work that program up from ultimately the bottom of the league.

James in just four short years took the second to last team in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to championship caliber level. Winning 66 regular season games, winning the Eastern Conference Finals, reaching the NBA finals, and winning the MVP award, James single handedly put a team on his back.

When this discussion comes about most people will immediately say Michael Jordan is the better player considering the fact that he has six NBA Championships. Yes, MJ does have more rings than LBJ, but James has been to the NBA Finals the past 6 years straight. That has not been done by any other player ever. To add on that, James still has a lot of gas in the tank and has a very good chance of winning more championships down the road.

The caliber of talent that is being showcased in the 21st century is incredibly different of that of the 20th century. The competition that James is playing against is so much better than the competition that Jordan had to play against. James still makes his game look like he is playing against a bunch of kids. 

In the 2015-2016 season, Lebron single handedly brought the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit against arguably the best team ever, the Golden State Warriors. Winning a record 73 regular season games, James showed how much he really cares for Cleveland and did almost the impossible.

LeBron James is a specimen we may never see again. Being the most dominant player since he entered the league, and will continue to write his legacy. Before he retires, he will be the greatest player ever to play the game, passing the great Michael Jordan.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) dunks as the Houston Rockets’ Ryan Anderson (3). Photo by MCT Campus.