SUMMARY
- LeBron James and the Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
- LA is an underdog in this series but they seem far better than how they looked last season during the conference finals.
A debate for the ages, LeBron James and Michael Jordan came into the limelight after the high schooler out of Akron, Ohio won his third NBA Championship in 2016. Over the years, James did everything he could in his power to challenge the legacy Jordan left behind. Ironically, MJ hung up his jersey in 2003, the same year James came into the league. Multiple stories claim that MJ only retired to escape competing against James. However, these theories remain unsolved.
Most points scored in a player’s 21st season:
1,822 — LeBron James
1,700
1,600
1,500
1,400
1,300
1,230 — Everyone else COMBINEDNearly 2k points in year 21 is insane. pic.twitter.com/YFOjeOTbEg
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) April 19, 2024
James has broken several records during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the league’s all-time leader in points scored. James also broke a couple of age-oriented records while being the only NBA star to cross 40,000 points and recording over 11,000 rebounds and assists. While his existing resume is more than enough to conquer Jordan’s legacy, some claim his lack of rings is what’s holding him back.
Can LeBron James be considered the GOAT with a fifth title?
The Los Angeles Lakers were off to a shaky start during the 2023-24 season, however, Darvin Ham helped figure out a solution to close off the regular season in fashion. Even though LA was a Play-In product, they still have a good chance of making a deep playoff run. But let’s just assume LeBron James wins his fifth title this season, would it give him an edge over Jordan? MJ won titles in 15 seasons and James has had way more playoff appearances than Jordan.
Michael Malone on LeBron James:
“It’s year 21, and the guy is getting better…I hope he gets tired. I hope he wears down. But I’ve seen no signs of LeBron James slowing down by any means.”
(via @HarrisonWind) pic.twitter.com/OXukVSpCXG
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 19, 2024
Right now, there isn’t much that can pull James’ legacy further away from being second to Jordan. To put this into perspective, James has more career rebounds, assists, and points than Jordan while even ranking above the GOAT in three-pointers, triple-doubles, double-doubles, and a lot more. Yes, James has had more time than Jordan in the league, but his longevity and dedication to the sport also matter. A fifth title could possibly help him cement his name over Jordan once and for all.
LeBron James and Co. would still face stiff competition after the Nuggets
Winning a fifth title will be a hard task to conquer this season, especially considering how much more consistency other teams have shown than the Lakers. Right now, the Lakers are scheduled to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. LA faced the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last season but faced a tragic 4-0 sweep. LA is a +300 underdog in this playoff series and they are also healthier than they were last season.
There is a good chance that the Lakers surpass the Nuggets solely if Anthony Davis finds a way to contain Nikola Jokic’s relentless offensive abilities. Now, if they do get passed the Nuggets, there are teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks they need to be worried about. Not to forget, how well the LA Clippers have been playing but LeBron James IQ is enough to help them get past their city rivals. The Wolves are the best defensive team while absolutely nobody has been able to top Luka Doncic’s efforts. This is where the Lakers may struggle eventually.