What metric best measures greatness in the NBA? In the debate over whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan is the greatest player of all time, Magic Johnson is counting NBA Championships.
The legendary former Lakers point guard recently weighed in on the standings at a gala in New York, saying that the current Laker, LeBron, is playing as well as Johnson has ever seen him play. But averaging 25.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.9 assists in season number 17 is not enough for James to rank above Jordan in Johnson’s standings.
“For (James) to really catch Michael, it’s that next two or three championships,” Johnson said, according to Business Insider. If he could get a couple more championships, then he’ll be probably the greatest that’s ever played.”
Magic means if James could get a couple more championship wins because he certainly has the appearances.
Johnson praised MJ for his 6-0 record in NBA Finals. Meanwhile, LBJ has nine Finals appearances, including appearing in eight consecutive.
But King James has six finals losses and three rings, while His Airness, Jordan, has six titles … and that’s the deciding factor in Magic’s mind.
“For me on my books right now, I would say Michael [Jordan] was the freakiest player in the game,” Johnson said. “He was the greatest to play on the floor because I couldn’t jump as high… But Michael going 6-0 in the NBA finals, oh man. That’s awesome.”
The two-time Hall of Fame inductee, Johnson, added that he also went to the NBA Finals nine times (in 12 years), but only won five championships. (That’s a number that’s good enough for Magic though, as long as it is, of course, more than Celtics rival Larry Bird’s three titles).
Sticking with the title tally being the best barometer for basketball’s biggest baller, Johnson threw a third name into the convo. No, not Kobe Bryant. Johnson points out that Celtics legend Bill Russell has both LeBron James and Michael Jordan beat with 11 NBA Championships.
