Michael Jordan vs LeBron James: The 15-Year Comparison That Could End The GOAT Debate

#4 On-ball defense

Michael Jordan (R) of the Chicago Bulls steals the ball

LeBron James used to be one of the best on-ball defenders of all time. Twice, he finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, and he's made 6 All-Defensive teams through the course of his career.

But he was never a true lockdown defender on the perimeter, as guys like Wade, Paul Pierce and Vince Carter routinely were able to get at him with their on-ball moves. Not to mention that he routinely got schooled by Kobe Bryant during his first spell at Cleveland.

Of late, LeBron has lost the ability to sustain maximum defensive effort at all times, as age is getting to him. He used to be able to guard smaller, faster guards like Derrick Rose, but that is no longer the case now in his 15th year.

Michael Jordan is the greatest defensive shooting guard of all time, bar none. Not Sidney Moncrieff. Not Michael Cooper. Not Kobe Bryant, or for that matter, Dwyane Wade or Tony Allen from this era. Michael Jordan's on-ball defense was so stifling that routinely teams had to play 4-on-4 basketball, keeping Jordan's guy on the corner and out of the offense - much the same way teams play Kawhi Leonard today on offense.

He led the league in steals thrice, and his career average of 2.3 steals per game ranks third among all players in NBA history. Jordan was also fast enough to prevent opponents from driving on him. He was literally a terror on the perimeter, and for that reason, he edges ahead of LeBron here.

Edge: Michael Jordan