LeBron James Passes Michael Jordan On The All-Time Scoring List
With 5:38 left in the second quarter and down 39-55 to the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James makes history by passing Michael Jordan for fourth All-Time on the All-Time Scoring list. Jordan played a total of 14 seasons, averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. The Hall of Famer won six championships with the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s, which included two three-peats ending with Michael Jordan holding the Finals MVP trophy. Jordan was also a 14-time All-Star, 10-time Scoring Champion, Three-time League MVP, and the 1984-1985 Rookie of the year.
As for James, he has been on the record stating that Michael Jordan is somebody he idolized growing up in Akron, Ohio. He wears the number [23] just like Michael Jordan did for the Chicago Bulls, the Washington Wizards, and the North Carolina Tarheels.
“I wear the number [23] because of Mike,” James said. “I think I fell in love with the game because of Mike. When you’re growing up and you’re seeing Michael Jordan, it’s almost like a god.”
Jordan did not have a problem with James wearing the number as he shared that with ESPN’s Chris Broussard at the time via text in 2014 when James returned to Cleveland after spending four seasons with the Miami Heat wearing the number 6.
“I’m cool with it,” Jordan told ESPN.com. “I don’t own a number.”
James was dubbed “The Chosen One“ dating back to his days in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School as a member of the Irish basketball team. Drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan even back then and when he was drafted with the overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the comparison with MJ didn’t stop. James would capture the 2003-2004 NBA Rookie of The Year Award as Jordan did during the 1984-1985 season. James is currently three championships away from Jordan’s six rings, but his overall recording in finals appearances is three and nine.
James might not be able to touch Jordan’s perfect record in the NBA Finals, but he is attempting to surpass his idol off the court. James this past summer opened him I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, he also has other ventures, which includes, film and television, a shoe deal with Nike just like his idol. The most notable thing that Michael Jordan wasn’t known for speaking up against social justice issues. It has been reported for years that Jordan stated: ”Republicans buy shoes, too,” about him not wanting to get involved with politics.
As for LeBron James, he has been at the forefront of social justice issues. For example, before the 2018 All-Star Game weekend in Los Angeles, James responded to comments made by Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who aimed at James for speaking up for what he believed in.
“We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said then. “I will definitely not do that. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth. I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”
On his HBO show “The Shop,” stated that he will continue to speak up not only for himself, but the people do not have a voice.
“I want the satisfaction. Not for myself, but for everybody else. I was raised off of [rappers] Snoop [Dogg] and [Tupac] and [Jay-Z] and Biggie [Smalls], and now I get an opportunity to be the inspiration around what all of these kids are looking up to? And for me to just sit back and not say s— when a lot of my peers didn’t say s—? It didn’t feel right.
“At the end of the day, when I decided I was going to start speaking up and not giving a f— about the backlash or if it affects me, my whole mindset was it’s not about me,” James added. “… My popularity went down. But at the end of the day, my truth to so many different kids and so many different people was broader than me personally.”
James has also stated he wants to own a team one day just like his idol Michael Jordan. The Lakers would fall to the Denver Nuggets 115-99 at the Staple Center.
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