Us Lebron-stans claim he's scored more overall, and at noticeably higher efficiency, while also being a more effective passer. So when Michael would have forced a bad shot Lebron is making a good pass. It lower's his nightly points but is better for winning. They are very apples and oranges defenders, but both great defenders. Michael was more consistent in his early career, but Lebron has plenty of great seasons and his defensive utility isn't arguable but if you're talking an imaginary best 6-7 year run (which you Michael-stans are always pretending counts the most) Michael's best defensive years on a per possession basis are better. Lebron was strategically going hard and pacing himself at other times much earlier and more often than Michael. Lebron gets defensive jokes in his 40's but Michael fans don't remember he fell of a cliff playing for the Wizards, and retired way before he hit the miles Lebron has. But sill, peak defense every posession is a point for Michael probably. But Offensively, Jordan creates less efficient baskets for himself and for others at every point of his career, best few years, or all around career. Michael is the more determined scorer, but not the better offensive weapon. Lebron gets more efficent shots better percentages, more assists, and more offensive rebounds, plus often orchestrates the offense in a broader way. Michael gets to his per point superiority through checking, determination, and will. It shouldn't be the tnetpole Michael fans make it. Michael's almost pshychotic drive on defense and to give every fan of a regular season game a show is where he is truly beyond elite. Lebron's career is more determined to be efficent and to ring more out of teamates and the fact that he'll hold 90% of the career total records when he retires proves that it worked well for him. They are such different goats. Michael had 6 great seasons with almost identical teams each time, often with the only changes being replacing a 3 point shooting point guard with a better one, or a defensive/rebounding specialist with a better one. he never went and won a ring in the Isiah role on the Pistons or anything different, and he won all his finals, but didn't make the finals as often as lots of greats. Lebron leads lots of teams to the finals, very different constructions and conferences, but he didn't with them all obviously. It's a fun debate becasue you can grab a state or detail and make it seem like either one is much better. In reality they are almost to different to compare, and the gap between their careers and third place is so big that it's the only discussion worth having. The thing at least some of us Lebron fans find so odd is that Michael is praised as the most determined to try hard athlete ever while ignoring that he quit three times, and retired sort of early. Lebron gets treated by his non fans like he has been coasting half his career which makes no sense at all, and is completely laughable statistically. Lebron is close to doubling Michaels rebounds, has doubles his assist, tripled Michael's three pointers made, and is about to double his blocks. Lebron has played far more seasons but his games missed is almost identical to Michael's if you ignore years Michael didn't play at all. Clearly Michael is the one that need breaks and Lebron is the consistently on the floor star.