The Athletic NBA Daily — Episode 6: Is Michael Jordan Better Than LeBron James?

Date: August 28, 2025
Hosts: David Aldridge, Joe Varden, Law Murray
Context: This episode celebrates the release of The Athletic's "Basketball 100" book, debating who reigns supreme among the all-time NBA greats, and explores the ever-controversial topic: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James.

Overview

This special episode dives into the top five players in NBA history as ranked by The Athletic’s staff for the “Basketball 100” project. The hosts analyze legacies, compare eras, and most intensely, debate Michael Jordan versus LeBron James for the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) title. The conversation is rich with personal memories, historical context, and candid, sometimes philosophical takes on greatness and what it means for basketball's future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Joy and Challenge of Ranking Legends

• Celebrating Excellence over Anger (02:55)
  • David Aldridge opens by emphasizing the joy in honoring the best, not letting debate turn into anger:
    “The book is designed for people to disagree… there’s no way you can come up with the right answer about anything except that Michael Jordan’s number one… but we can discuss.” (03:00)
• Personal Favorites Among the Top 5
  • Joe Varden finds joy in Bill Russell’s timelessness:
    “When you have a career and a life’s work, you want people to be able to remember it… and Russell certainly has been able to do that.” (04:55)
  • Law Murray celebrates Michael Jordan’s transcendent reach:
    “Even in kindergarten people was like, ‘Oh yeah, Mike’ — he had crossed over to the point where a four year old knew who he was.” (06:35)
  • Aldridge laments Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s underappreciation:
    “Kareem’s just been forgotten by most people including historians… thirty-eight thousand points essentially with one shot… and nobody could stop it.” (09:40)

Greatest of All Time: Jordan vs. LeBron Debate

Joe Varden’s Argument for LeBron (17:51)

• Cites LeBron’s longevity, scoring record, and ability to endure:
  “LeBron’s had the better, longer career… he gets credit for that”. (19:01)
• Notes personal bias as reporter who covered LeBron extensively.

Law Murray’s Jordan Case (20:04)

• Stresses Jordan’s historic 1988 season and evolution as a player:
  “When Michael was that age… you can see some similarities. But I’m not doing that for 1988 Jordan when that dude was MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same year, as a guard.” (20:36)
• Notes the context: Bulls built from irrelevance with Jordan.

The Finals Factor

• Aldridge:
  “LeBron’s got a case… the eight straight Finals — that’s impossible!” (24:33)
  • Even if the Eastern Conference was weak, sustaining that dominance is unique.
• Joe:
  “Of all the five top players, LeBron’s game is the only one you could drop in any era and he wouldn’t have to change at all because of his size and athleticism.” (27:01)

Jordan’s Adaptability (31:16)

• Both Law and David agree that Jordan would have developed a great three-point shot if it were as vital in his era, citing his adaptability and work ethic.

The Michael Magic

• Joe articulates Jordan’s lasting impact:
  “He (Michael) changed the way we think about the sport… LeBron is the next Michael… but Michael did it first.” (41:22)
• Law contrasts the ‘unquestioned’ era of Jordan with LeBron’s:
  “The best thing that Michael had is that stretch of not being questioned… all 6-0 means to anybody, it’s a narrative thing.” (42:51)

Other Notable Players & Contexts

Bill Russell’s Dominance

• David argues against those who diminish Russell due to his era or lack of offense:
  “If it was easy to win eleven titles in thirteen seasons, other people would have done it besides Bill Russell.” (08:53)

Kareem’s Place in History

• Aldridge on Kareem’s overlooked legacy:
  “Kareem was just unbelievable… six league MVPs, one more than Jordan.” (13:09)
• Discussion of the 1970s as the “forgotten” decade that Kareem dominated.

Era Comparison & Portability

• LeBron lauded as the most era-proof: size, strength, skills.
• Magic Johnson called a “cerebral” player who’d thrive today.
• Discussion about how three-point shooting, media, and economics may have impacted the stars if they’d played in a different era.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Bill Russell:
  “He destroyed their mental capacity and will to continue competing against them… that’s the ultimate triumph of an athlete…”
  — David Aldridge (09:02)

• On LeBron's Case:
  “The thing to me that is… most compelling to me is the eight straight Finals — that’s impossible.”
  — David Aldridge (24:53)

• Jordan’s Era-Changing Impact:
  “We haven’t really changed how we look at the game since Michael.”
  — Joe Varden (41:22)

• On Greatness Across Eras:
  “You can find people who look like Kareem, who look like Bill Russell… but Bron’s mix of size and athleticism is truly the most one-of-one thing.”
  — Law Murray (28:35)

Reflections on Creating “Basketball 100” (48:23)

• Joe Varden cherishes the chance to work on LeBron’s chapter and to speak with NBA legends.
• Law Murray reflects on the privilege and responsibility of chronicling living history, and the importance of recording stories before they’re lost.
• David Aldridge:
  “If you like basketball I like you… to be a part of this has been a joy… it is the best of what we can be if we decide to do stuff together.” (53:29)

Conclusion

This episode is an in-depth and warm-hearted exploration of basketball greatness: what it means, how it evolves, and why it remains fiercely debated. The hosts bring historical perspective, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful analysis, ultimately leaving the question of Jordan vs. LeBron open — with reverence for both, and a reminder that loving basketball means loving its whole, unwieldy history.

Recommended Listen:

• Michael Jordan vs. LeBron debate: 17:51–44:09
• Reflections on basketball history and preserving legacy: 46:19–54:00