Scottie Pippen wrong to put LeBron James ahead of Michael Jordan - Part 2
Link for Part-1: http://www.senore.com/Scottie-Pippen-wrong-to-put-LeBron-James-ahead-of-Michael-Jordan-Part-1-a72031
What’s most baffling is the timing of Scottie Pippen’s quotes. James can, and probably will, go on to win many world championships, but at the moment he hasn’t won any. He has nothing to show so far in comparison to Michael Jordan.
Instead LeBron has already failed where Michael succeeded.
Michael Jordan never lost in NBA Finals, LeBron already has. Michael Jordan took his underdog team to the Finals and won the first time, LeBron is going in, the second time and with the favourites.
So it is hard to understand what Scottie Pippen’s assessment is based on.
All-Star game appearances perhaps? Well, Yao Ming has those in abundance.
Or may be stats? Michael Jordan had 33.4 points per game in the playoffs throughout his career on a 49 percent shooting. LeBron James has 28.7 points at 46 percent shooting.
Jordan had class and was loved throughout the world. Try finding a supporter for James in Cleveland.
Whatever Jordan has achieved he has achieved himself. He didn’t leave the Chicago Bulls even when he wasn’t successful. He had roadblocks in front of him, most notably the Detroit Pistons, but he didn’t just give up. He didn’t
whimper because of failure and turned on his fans.
Michael stayed loyal to his team. He moulded them into a side formidable enough and then he led them to glory, himself. The Scottie Pippen's and Dennis Rodman's came to Chicago or developed alongside him. He didn’t go around the
league searching for a team that could stand up to the Pistons or the Celtics or the Lakers that were dominating the league in his era.
LeBron James has already run away from that challenge. He quit. There’s no two ways about it. He had a shot in 2007 and failed then. The team was rebuilt again only to see their leader act like a petulant teenager when beaten by
the Boston Celtics and then, he quit again. He left the Cleveland Cavaliers and decided to go somewhere it would be easier for him.
Not content with just going to a strong team, LeBron decided to make the strongest team in the land - a team with not one, but two great players, just to help him out. Now, he plays with the likes of Dwyane Wade, a finals MVP,
something LeBron didn’t achieve in his trip to the Finals and Chris Bosh who was the spearhead of the Toronto Raptors for years. He has these two on his side, the best help anywhere in the league, and he beats his chest like a madman after ganging up on Derrick
Rose and a Chicago Bulls side that doesn’t have one other player, even on the All-Star bench.
This is not greatness. That is not even worthy of a comparison with Michael Jordan.
LeBron will always have so much against him in the debate, a debate that shouldn’t really take place at all. If the LeBron supporters still won’t back down they can come over when King James has delivered on all his promise. They
can call him the greatest when he has won 6 consecutive NBA titles. After the first three-peat, LeBron should retire and come back two years later to win the next three-peat. And win the Finals MVP all six times.
Maybe - just maybe, after he has achieved all that, LeBron can stand up to be compared with Michael Jordan.
Till that time comes, his supporters and Scottie Pippen, of all people, should leave Michael’s legacy alone.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and has nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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