If you were coach and you had the choice to add a superstar to your roster, who would it be? If you were given the opportunity of choosing between a 27-year-old Lebron James and a 27-year-old Michael Jordan, who would you want on your roster? If there were a way to get both superstars to play in the current time period, which player would be the best addition to the team? Who would provide the most all around game to help you win a championship?

Let’s take a look at each player’s profile.

Lebron James is 27-years-old, was drafted straight out of high school, is a 6’8 250 pound monster like specimen, was named league MVP and finals MVP, averaged 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game during the post season and finally silenced critics, haters and spectators by winning a NBA championship.

Michael Jordan was a University of North Carolina graduate when he entered the league, winning a championship with them in 1982, was a 6’6 218-pound lean and athletically-sculpted specimen, averaged 33.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game and didn’t have any NBA rings on his fingers yet.

In an article entitled ” LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: Comparing Their First 9 Seasons in the NBA” Daniel M states “Jordan didn’t win the league MVP, but he led the league in scoring and steals. He won his third straight finals MVP with another dominant finals performance. In Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, Jordan scored 55 points, which is tied for the second most points in a finals game. Jordan would average 41.0 points per game in that series, which is still the NBA record. He scored 40 or more points four times in that series.”

He then goes on to say that because of the points Jordan scored he has the advantage over James.

Jordan’s numbers are superior but sometimes it’s not all about numbers. A player can score 40 points a game, average a ridiculous amount of rebounds and assists, but if he doesn’t get along with other players and makes bad decisions, the team won’t have what it takes to win a championship. To be a great player you have to bring something special to the table.

James brings some outstanding qualities and of course Jordan is no Joe blow. James, standing at 6’8 and weighing 250-pounds is said to be an on coming truck when driving to the lane. Michael Jordan was a lighting fast, graceful high flyer but wasn’t the physically dominating player James is, Jordan would beat a player with his speed. A lot of people think bigger is better, but in boxing, one can see that this is truly false. Speed kills and speed is that secret ingredient that gives a clear advantage over an opponent in any sport.

However, James has both speed and power but he just isn’t as quick as Jordan and that might be because of his larger and heavier frame. Don’t sell James short though, he is probably the fastest player of his size in the NBA or the world for that matter. Jordan has him on that aspect, but not by much. To get to the lane Jordan would simply speed ahead of his opponent, take flight over his opponent or catch alleys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8M2NgjvicA

To get to the lane James just runs straight and players get out of his way or get dunked on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccXd88T45BY&feature=fvwrel

Looking at both links you can see the difference in dunking style, Jordan is more graceful in flight but James is more powerful.

The decision would obviously be a tough one, it really depends on which style of play you would prefer for your team.

Getting back to reality… As of now James only has one championship and Jordan has retired with six. If James doesn’t get at least six rings Jordan would arguably be the better choice, simply because NBA arguments end with rings. The player with the most rings is better period. James still has some time to go and Jordan is resting comfortably with six rings and most critics on his side.