The debate of the G.O.A.T. is unending. It will always see players of the past compared to the present-day stars. An interesting one is between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Sports Analyst Shannon Sharpe feels James is held to a higher standard than Jordan.
Michael Jordan has the NBA Championship wins and the MVP trophies stats in his favor. However, what goes against him is the fact that he made it to the finals just 6 times in 13 playoff appearances. The Akron native has a better rate with 9 finals from 13 playoff appearances. James is also higher than Jordan in all-time scoring charts.
In terms of winning it’s understandable why Jordan is considered superior. As at the end of the day, the masses remember the major wins. However, pure Basketball fans will get down to the nitty-gritty. They will look at factors such as the style of play in the day. Quality of the opposition at the teammates too will be a factor.
Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: An unending debate
Sharpe spoke about Jordan being unable to beat the Detroit ‘Bad Boys’ in their prime. Chicago exited the playoffs 3 years in a row from 88 to 90 after losing to the Pistons.
They swept them in the finals a year later en route the maiden championship. Jordan never switched teams to get his hands on the trophy. He won all 6 titles with the same team, unlike James who needed to join forces with fellow class of 2003 draftees.
The big 3 was formed to combat the Celtics’ eastern conference powerhouse of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. All of these players were first-round draft picks. Boston eliminated James’ Cleveland in 2008 and 2010. James didn’t bide his time, nor did Chris Bosh. They joined Dwayne Wade at Miami to form a Big 3.
Perhaps this is a reason why James is held to a higher standard. It is because he switches teams, recruits the best in the league to form a dream team. That is the norm in present-day Basketball with Golden State Warriors to adding Kevin Durant to their team which had made 2 trips to the finals.
With the advent of such dream teams in the league, no doubt the standards will be higher. A line in Jordan’s book comes to mind. It takes about how he built his talent on the shoulders of players like Julius Erving and adds how future players will look at him and build their talent by looking at him. He says talent is evolving and getting better. This is another reason players will be held to higher standards as the years go by.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant Hired the Smartest Agents
Basketball stars like LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Stephen Curry pull down bigger salaries than most of their peers because of their ability. But a handful of NBA players will be hanging on to more of their money in the suspended season because of their agents.
A few agents’ foresight in negotiating a unique payment clause for approximately 20 clients means those NBA players stand to collect a larger percentage of their salaries before the league turns off the financial faucet.
LeBron James has an ‘all you can get’ contract
Marc Stein of The New York Times reported this week that NBA owners have not assured players they’ll receive paychecks beyond the one that landed in their accounts Tuesday. Because the standard NBA contract calls for payments twice a month over the full year beginning late in the fall, most players have received less than half their season salary despite the season being more than 75% complete.
However, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving are among approximately 20 players whose agents negotiated payments on a shorter schedule. The so-called “all you can get” strategy spreads the paychecks out over six months rather than 12, meaning that those stars have already pocketed more than 90% of their salaries even if the NBA doesn’t resume play due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The league and the NBA Players Association are discussing holding a quarter of all salaries in escrow while clarifying how collective bargaining agreement wording handles the possibility of the currently suspending season being shut down.
The small group of players on the different payment plan would be negotiating from a position of power should the NBA attempt to claw back some money.
One agent used the tactic more than others did
At least four other agents negotiated the accelerated payments on behalf of clients including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Blake Griffin. But one agent stood out above the rest. Rich Paul, who runs the Klutch Sports agency, is believed to have gone the “all you can get” route with nine clients including LeBron James, John Wall, Darius Bazley, and Miles Bridges.
Paul, 38, opened his agency in 2012 and owes much of his success to James, whom he met in 2002. He began working in 2006 with Leon Rose, who negotiated James’ first contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers and is now in charge of basketball operations for the New York Knicks.
When Paul left Rose’s office to form his own company, James followed him. Paul negotiated James’ return to the Cavaliers in 2014.
LeBron James’ agent had to fight to stay certified
The NCAA rule required all agents advising or representing players to meet several requirements, including holding a four-year college degree. Paul and several others challenged the rule and succeeded in having it amended.
Now, agents lacking a degree can advise and represent college athletes as long as they are certified by the National Basketball Players Association and complete a liability insurance exam.
