Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers struggled to tread water during the first half of the schedule with an unbalanced and incomplete roster. Thanks to multiple midseason trades, they reemerged late in the year as a championship contender.
Even after suffering a right foot injury and coming back at less than 100%, LeBron James guided his team to a playoff spot. He did so even though stat geeks gave the Lakers a 0.3% chance of making the playoffs early in the season.
Once there, they made it all the way to the Western Conference finals before their magic carpet ride ended with a sweep at the hands of the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, who often likes to make hot takes as a commentator these days, claimed what James did in March, April and May was something Michael Jordan couldn’t do (h/t The Cold Wire).
"What LeBron did last year, Michael Jordan couldn't do, period. He couldn't take a late group, bring 'em together and take that group…to go on a run like that [to the Western Conference Finals]."
– Michael Irvin via @undisputed pic.twitter.com/hQCL25AVUq
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) August 29, 2023
It should be noted that throughout his career, Jordan was never in a situation where he played on a team that was drastically remodeled at midseason as the 2022-23 Lakers were. His Chicago Bulls were remarkably stable throughout the 1990s when he led them to six world titles.
It’s anyone’s guess how he would’ve dealt with such a situation.
But this is the latest manifestation of the debate as to whether James is the greatest player ever that will likely never be resolved.
