- Report: LeBron has been assured that Lakers will deal 2027 and 2029 1st-rounders if trade returns them to contender status
- Brian Windhorst says his relationship with LeBron James isn’t what it used to be
- Phil Handy on Kyrie Irving: ‘Offensively, probably the most skilled player to ever put on basketball shoes’
- Report: LeBron James has been ‘privately adamant’ that Lakers still need to upgrade roster and trade for Kyrie Irving
- Video: Ben Simmons told he ‘can’t shoot’ after repeatedly being called Russell Westbrook
- Report: Rob Pelinka has been ‘very active’ in trying to improve Lakers roster in 2 specific areas
- Lakers announce date for Pau Gasol’s jersey retirement
- Report: LeBron James signs extension with Lakers that could keep him with team through 2024-25 season
- Fox Sports Radio’s Robert Guerra questions whether LeBron James is even a top 10 Laker of all time
- LeBron James entertains idea that Bronny’s viral dunk had Dwyane Wade vibes
J.R. Smith on Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James: ‘Can’t Compare a Lion and a Tiger’
- Updated: June 2, 2020

Over the course of his career, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been compared to Michael Jordan countless times.
James’ former teammate, J.R. Smith, was asked to weigh in on the debate recently on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“You can’t compare a lion and a tiger,” said Smith. “They’re both cats but they’re not the same. You gotta understand, the lion is the king of the jungle. Everybody bows down to the lion. That don’t stop the tiger from [saying]: ‘Listen motherf—–, I’m a bad motherf—– too.”
Fans who are well informed know that there are major differences in the style of play between James and Jordan.
While the former can score with the best of them, he’s a facilitator and a distributor at his core. Jordan, on the other hand, was a scorer and a finisher first and foremost. He remains arguably the best the league has ever seen in both categories.
Some have opined that a better comparison for James is Magic Johnson, who is widely considered to be the greatest point guard ever.
Like James, Johnson was 6-foot-9 star and could score in bunches when needed, but mostly looked to push the pace and get his teammates involved by getting them easy baskets.
Since coming to the Lakers last season, James has been playing a lot like Johnson did during L.A.’s “Showtime” era in the 1980s.
The Akron, Ohio native is currently leading the league in assists with an average of 10.6 per game. He has also made the Lakers arguably the best fast-break team in the NBA.