Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Compared to Michael Jordan

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Compared to Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan, looked as the greatest basketball player of all time. Ask anyone when they think the greatest player ever people will 99.9% of the time say Michael Jordan. Great players have played before him and after him. Everyone seems to feel as if he is the best of all time; he is GOAT Talk. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Lebron James, anyone you can think of people always say Jordan is better. However the player they aren’t looking at; that might just give Jordan a run at the Greatest Player of All Time to todays standards. That man is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the all time scoring leader; and Jordan’s biggest threat for GOAT TALK.

Accolades:

What is the main argument every time you argue with anyone about why Jordan is the best? He’s got 6 rings in 15 seasons no one can compare to him. If Bill Russell 11 rings in 13 seasons doesn’t get rid of this argument, you might feel that no argument will. Russell played in the ABA and NBA so they discredit his argument because his era was not as competitive. Magic Johnson has 5 rings, Bird has 3, Lebron has 3 not enough to argue they are better than Jordan. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar does have 6 rings just like Jordan so there goes that argument. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also managed to win 1 of those rings on an expansion team Milwaukee Bucks in 1970. People may say “Oh but Abdul-Jabbar had Oscar Robertson on that team.” Oscar Robertson also never won a championship without Abdul-Jabbar. When have you heard of the Bucks being relevant after Abdul-Jabbar left? Not so much; and it’s not like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman who played with Jordan were not all time greats. Pippen actually took the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Championship after Jordan left the following year. Also  Jordan may have improved the Wizards but he came nowhere near a championship; he didn’t even make the playoffs with the Wizards.

Both players however were not shocked when they made the Playoffs or the All Star Game. In Michael Jordan’s 15 seasons he made the playoffs 13 times. While he also made the All Star Game 14 out of 15 times. All things set aside this a very impressive feat, even after all the leaving and coming back to make the All Star team almost every season he played. It however was not rare to see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the Playoffs or the All Star Game. He made the Playoffs 18 out of the 20 seasons he played. He missed it twice just like Michael Jordan. Abdul-Jabbar also made 19 All Star Game appearances. Also just like Jordan in the sense that he only missed the All Star Game one time in his career. Making the Playoffs or the All Star Game was never a problem for either player.  

No one was more valuable than Michael Jordan the majority would say. This also is not necessarily the truth at all. Michael Jordan did get the voters to vote for him 5 times the NBA’s MVP for the regular season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got the top vote in the NBA voting 6 times. That is one more time than Jordan. Jordan did however have 6 finals MVPs comparing to Abdul-Jabbar’s, who only has 2 Finals MVPs. Magic Johnson taking the fame from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 times. If you look back to those finals in 1980, 1982, and 1987 when Johnson won the Finals MVP. You could of gave it to either Abdul-Jabbar or Johnson; it was more of a popularity constant. If that’s the case no one is ever really beating Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson in that.

Michael Jordan was the next exciting thing after the Bird and Johnson rivalry era. Taking the worst team in the NBA in the Chicago Bulls the year before they drafted him; the Bulls only won 22 games. The first year he played they went 38-44 and made the Playoffs. Which shows you how bad the Eastern Conference was when he first started to play in the NBA. Jordan did win rookie of the year though. Just like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the rookie of the year when he took the Bucks way ahead. The Bucks went 27-55 as an expansion team in 1968. They used their draft pick to get Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In his rookie year he took the Bucks an expansion remind you to a 56-26 record while winning the rookie of the year and finishing 2nd in the Eastern Conference. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t take long neither did Jordan to make a statement in the league. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar just had a bigger impact and for a longer period of time.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can compete or be better than Jordan in almost every accolade it’s actually kind of crazy no one really talks about him being better than Jordan. For example Michael Jordan made 10 All NBA 1st teams. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has also made 10 All NBA 1st teams. Michael Jordan has made 11 total All NBA whether they be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd teams. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has made 15 combined All NBA teams. It’s the details in stats what makes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar better than Jordan. Jordan majority of the time was either the best at his position or didn’t qualify to be the best. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar might not have been the best that year at the position but 2nd is better than nothing.

The same argument can be made for the other side of the ball both players on defense did a great job. Michael Jordan’s 9 1st team All-NBA selections can not be passed over on. He was a historic defender with that help defense system in Chicago. He was named to 9 All NBA defensive teams all of them being 1st team. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the other hand only was named to 5 All NBA Defensive 1st Teams. He was though named to 11 All NBA Defensive Teams. Jordan was more of a hit or miss it looks like in these stats. He either was the best at it or didn’t make it at all. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar what makes him better is that he was more constant. He can give you 1st team but he won’t give you nothing. Jordan did however did win 1 Defensive Player of the Year award; which is one more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ever won. The Defensive Player of the Year award was given out for the time after the 1982-1983 season. Towards the end of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar time in the NBA. Jordan was also marketed as the face of the NBA. The media votes on these accolades and it looks like if Jordan didn’t have them in his hand he did not get any award. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was just a man playing some basketball was not the face of anything besides the Bucks at one point.

Michael Jordan though was the leader in categories a lot to the point where you can say he might of been the best. He led the league in scoring 10 times compared to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who only did it 2 times. You have to remember Jordan played with Pippen and Rodman. Players that are all time greats but not known for dropping 30 on you every night. Jordan was the scorer on the Bulls; and when he went to the Wizards he was their only option. No taking anything away from him these are just the facts. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played with Magic Johnson and James Worthy let’s just say scoring was not the problem for the Showtime Lakers. Jordan also led the league 3 times in steals which shows the defensive presence he was. Since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not ever have the most or come close to the stealing leader title but that wasn’t his job. Just like it wasn’t Jordan’s job to block the ball. He never led the league in blocks but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ended the year at the top of the blocks leader board 4 times. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did have the most rebounds one season like DOPY award with Jordan. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the most rebounds in a season more than Jordan if even if it is just once.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did play more seasons though than Michael Jordan. Abdul-Jabbar played 20 seasons compared to Jordan’s 15 seasons. Does that make Jordan better because he accomplished his accolades in less time? In a way it does but another way it does not. I don’t see how you can punish Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for playing at a higher level longer than Jordan. I don’t see how since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar kept his body in better shape and had the will to go more seasons. Why he should ever be punished for that.

Regular Season Stats

When determining the best player of all time you have to look at what they did in the regular season not just the playoffs. Michael Jordan did average more points than the leading scorer of all time Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jordan averaged 30.1 points throughout his NBA career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 24.6 points which is great but it is no 30.1. Once again lots of Jordan stats could be considered boosted because he was on the Wizards. He was literally the only player on the Wizards. The game plan was give the ball to Jordan if he doesn’t score than we don’t. Pistons “Jordan rules” also could of played a huge role in mass scoring. They would let Jordan score but try and lock down everyone else. They knew Jordan couldn’t beat them by himself he needed other players. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was on the Showtimes Lakers their first option was Magic Johnson. Letting Abdul-Jabbar score often but Johnson as well as of Worthy could score at will. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a go to scorer on the Lakers but was not always the first option but we all know he could do what he wanted to on any defense.

In the assists and rebounds department both of them did what they had to do. When you think guard you would expect him to have more assists than the forward or center. Which Michael Jordan did he averaged 5.3 assists per game; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 3.6 which isn’t that bad for a big man. Michael Jordan only average 1.7 more in a category where he should dominate the big man in. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the same as Jordan did better in the category he should of in rebounds he averaged 11.2 rebounds per game compared to Jordan’s 6.2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 5 more in his category of rebounds. Where Jordan only averaged 1.7 more in his category.  

The same thing goes for blocks in steals. You would expect the guard to have more steals; and the forward/center to have more blocks. They are just in better positions to achieve these stats. Michael Jordan averaged 2.3 steals per game; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t average 1 he averaged 0.9 steals a game. So he would probably would have a steal but it was not guaranteed. Jordan guaranteed he was going to take the ball away at one point. The same thing goes for blocks per game though. Like Bill Russell said “The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did that better than Jordan. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 2.6 blocks per game compared to Jordan’s 0.8. Almost identical when it comes to steals and blocks. The other did better in the category they were suppose to.

Now how did both players percentage wise do shooting the basketball? Well in one area Jordan was significantly better. On three pointers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot 6%; he was a center so he did not do that often. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar poor 3 point shooting because of his position should not punish Jordan though. Michael Jordan shot 33% from 3 which is very good since it is the farthest part of the court. Jordan also shot better from the line shooting 84% on free throws. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot 72% from the line. Jordan did get every call under the sun so much when Kevin Durant was getting every call against the Lakers one night. His former coach and Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson said he has never seen someone get so many calls since he  coached Jordan. Jordan did have more opportunities in games to shoot from the line; and at that level a wide open shot in front of the rim is almost guaranteed especially from a player like Jordan. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar however did shoot better from the field. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot a 56% field goal percentage. Michael Jordan shot a about 50% from the field. Jordan took more shots be also missed more shots in his career then Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Playoffs

Now when you think best player of all time, what do you think of? How did this player perform in crunch time. When the season was on the line who stepped up. Of course everyone brings up Jordan’s game winning shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 7, 1989 as one of the most clutch moments. If you re watch the play it is a clear push off; so yes I am discrediting that shot since he had to foul to make it because of Lebron James or anyone had the same situation Jordan fans would let you know. Or how about the “Flu Game” not taking anything away from Jordan that game was incredible. A historic performance considering he had flu like symptoms which make you feel like you are dying. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar however was Islam and during the playoffs was fasting for Ramadan. He was starving during his playoff performances; so the FLU game was almost an everyday game for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. So much the NBA would schedule the Lakers games so Kareem Abdul-Jabbar didn’t pass out during them. Somethings to know before looking into the stats.

Michael Jordan did of course average more points than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the playoffs. Michael Jordan upt his game in the Playoffs scoring on average 33.4 Points Per Game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stayed his constant self averaging similar to the regular season 24.3 Points Per Game. Michael Jordan can say clutch is a good way to define him. Not taking anything away from him in the scoring part of the game. He boosted his points by 2 in the Playoffs which could decide the games a close race to the Finals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar still produced a good 24 points. Which is nice to have all season; and in reality is star numbers. Just when you have a top 3 skill player of all time in Magic Johnson on your team you don’t the ball as much. Michael Jordan however does take the scoring category from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when comes to clutch.

In the Playoffs both dominated the categories that they were suppose to for their positions. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 10.5 rebounds a game. He averaged a double-double for both the regular season and the playoffs. Which in my opinion could cancel out Jordan’s mass scoring because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finding other ways for his team to score. Jordan averaged 6.4 rebounds per game in the playoffs. Which is impressive still even though he is really not upping his game in the playoffs  for rebounds. Doesn’t mean Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did do it better though in the playoffs with rebounds  Jordan also averaged 5.7 assists per game during his playoffs similar to his 5.3 in the regular season. He was not ever really looking to pass it was not his job in the Bull's system. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 3.2 assists in the playoffs. Not better than Jordan but got closer to Jordan in assists did Jordan did in rebounds. Both played very constant when it came to rebounds and assists and for that we applaud both players.

The same goes for steals and blocks during the playoffs for both Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan averaged 2.1 steals per game during the playoffs. He averaged 2.3 in the regular season. One thing about why Jordan could be the goat is that his points boosted but his other numbers stayed the same. Which is only good not bad he was better than constant. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not much different he got 1 steal per game in the Playoffs not much better than his regular season 0.9. Just like Jordan Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stayed constant. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged 2.4 blocks per game which was more than Jordan’s 0.9 blocks. Different places on the court different jobs. Both did theirs on the defensive side of the ball.

Different time of year but the same story goes for shooting percentages for both players. Michael Jordan was better at shooting from the line and from behind the 3 point line than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Michael Jordan shot 33% from 3. Which is very good considering that 30% is good so he goes above that line from 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did not make one 3 in the Postseason he also only took 2 of them. That’s why his shooting percentage from 3 is 0%. Not to punish Jordan because he could shoot from 3 but two different positions. Jordan also shot 84% from the free throw line in the playoffs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot on the other hand 74% from the line not bad for a big men but not as good as Jordan did. MJ did get every call under the sun as usual nothing changed in the Playoffs. Giving MJ shots at the free throw line is like giving Steph Curry shots at the line. They are just going to make it; to high of level player for them not to. Jordan was a better shooter from 3 and from the line than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Once again though the most popular shot taken field goals Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did better than Jordan in. MJ shot 49% from the field during the playoffs. Which is not bad at all; none of these stats are bad it’s just they are being judged at a high level. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shot 53% from the field. Better than Jordan did and Jordan had more shots. So Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took advantage of when he had the ball he usually more than half the time he scored. Both stats are impressive from both players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar just shot better than Jordan did from the field which in my opinion is more important than Jordan’s shooting better from the 3 or from the line.

All Time Stats

In the all time stats people may argue that it’s not fair because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 1,560 games, and Jordan only played in 1,072. To my point before you can not punish someone for longevity. You can’t  punish someone for putting their body on the line for a longer period of time; and have the ability to do a sport like basketball at such a high level for a long period of time. Abdul-Jabbar played longer as a center, that is very impressive considering you usually see the big man break down first in the NBA.

The career numbers for both Jordan and Abdul-Jabbar are very impressive, I mean of course they are that’s why we are talking about them in who is the best of all time at the sport. Michael Jordan has more steals than Abdul-Jabbar; with 2,514 to Abdul-Jabbar 1,160. Which only makes sense guards are more prone to steal the ball; especially from big man like Abdul-Jabbar. The guards are just quicker and faster which makes it easier for them to take the ball away. Which Jordan shouldn’t be punished for he beats Abdul-Jabbar in the steals category fair and square. The Bull’s Phil Jackson’s help defense with Pippen and Rodman sure did him wonders. However whatever the big man couldn’t steal he made up for in blocks. The big man is just bigger it’s easier to block the ball especially from guards. Like Jordan though in steals Abdul-Jabbar will not be punished for this blowing Jordan away in the block stat with 3,189 compared to Jordan’s 893. They both took categories they should have taken but it looks Abdul-Jabbar was more dominant in blocks than Jordan was in steals.

Now the big 3 when it comes to looking at the stat lines in the NBA points, rebounds, and assists. Well if you ever heard a basketball stat in your life or just got curious because people love players that score a lot of points. You may have looked up the leading scorer of all time; and yes when you look that question up not Michael Jordan but  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar comes up. Not to say that Michael Jordan’s 32,292 points do not impress me; but Abdul-Jabbar all time leading in scoring 38,387 does impress me that much more when it comes to Goat Talk. The other clear stat or not that shocked stat he leads Jordan is rebounds. Abdul-Jabbar is just bigger and apart of his job is to grab rebounds. Abdul-Jabbar still however leads in this category 17,440 rebounds, Jordan only having 6,672 rebounds. Which may seem like a lot especially when the guy we are comparing you to has 10,000+ more rebounds than you. Finally Jordan’s saving grace when it comes to the stat line assists. Jordan was a shooting guard which may not be known for dishing the rock but they definitely dish the rock more than centers. Michael Jordan had 5,633 assists in his career; Abdul-Jabbar had 5,660 career assists. Yes you read that right Abdul-Jabbar has more career assists than Jordan. It might have taken Abdul-Jabbar a little longer to get their but sorry Jordan maybe you should have played a bit longer.

Conclusion

All these stats and theories on who the greatest player of all time were all for you to decide who think is better Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or the basic answer of Michael Jordan. They both at their time were beyond amazing basketball players. Changed a generation of the game, and made it more fun to watch basketball when these two were playing. However you can’t change the past as much as Jordan fans would; but the guy with the same amount of rings, one more MVP, and leads between the 2 in 5 of the 6 big stats. I can see why you can say that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is GOAT TALK.

By,

Matthew Doherty