The Winning Ways of Mike and Lebron

Basketball is a game about art, skill, and talent. There are many professional basketball players in the NBA who have these characteristics. Some all star players such as Shaq, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Larry Bird, Steph Curry, and Magic Johnson, to name a few. However, there are two players in particular, who have a very special and unique approach to “winning” at basketball, and who are currently part of a debate as to who is the greatest of all. This blog is not about declaring who is the greatest. It is about analyzing these two greats to understand why they “win” at the game of basketball.

I’ll start with the original greatest of all time (“GOAT”), Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was motivated to win by his competitive spirit. His teammates said Mike would find anything to motivate him to win. Usually it was a specific team, or player with whom he would fixate his attention. He hated to lose. His teammates said they hated playing even casual games like cards, because he had to win at everything .Michael Jordan is arguably the “GOAT” of basketball. Michael Jordan has 6 NBA championship titles. Michael Jordan was single mindedly focused on dominating the opposing player or team. It was his motivation. Throughout his career he averaged 30 points a game and made other players fear him. During his era nobody had seen anyone like Michael Jordan, and at the end of his career, he was pronounced the greatest to ever live. 

While Michael’s form of winning was motivated by his competitive spirit, Lebron James is motivated by his love of the game. Lebron James has had an amazing basketball career. Lebron James was one of a few professional basketball players to go to the NBA straight out of high school at the age of 19. Lebron James’ finishing, playmaking, passing, rebounding, and defense has made his NBA career so successful. He is an all around player. Some other examples of this is his scoring title with 48,000 points surpassing Kareem Abdul Jabar, making him the highest scorer of all time. Lebron James has also done the unimaginable by coming back from a 3 to 1 lead against an allstar Golden State Warriors team. Lebron James has 4 rings and is currently averaging 28 points a game at the age of 40 years old. Being the oldest player in the league while still being one of the best players in the league is a huge example of his winning motivation. To play in the league for 19 years, consistently at a high level, is only possible if you’re doing something you absolutely love.So, legitimately, Lebron James is also the GOAT. So here we are; two GOATS, two top level winners, one unparalleled in his competitive spirit, and one unparalleled in his deep, raw love of the game.