Gilbert Arenas Says Michael Jordan Couldn't Be Successful As LeBron James In Today's Age
Michael Jordan and LeBron James have been endlessly compared and contrasted by fans, analysts and former players.
The latest to weigh in is former Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who nearly played with Jordan in 2003. On an episode of IAmAthlete, Arenas said Jordan’s character would not be acceptable in this day and age.
“If we take MJ and LeBron and switch their eras, Michael Jordan’s personality and the way he lived his life, would not be perfect like LeBron is,” Arenas said. “We’re talking about the whole package. When we’re talking about Ja Morant with the silly s*** he’s doing, and that’s tarnishing his legacy. You take MJ’s personality with the gambling and all that, and put it in this scrutiny? F*** no.”
Arenas praised James’ ability to maintain a positive public image while combating all the criticism he received.
“LeBron don’t have a ticket in this era,” Arenas said. “Imagine you put him in an era where there’s no media.”
Arenas may have a point there. Jordan even admitted he would not be able to play in today’s era due to the constant backlash and judgment via social media. James has had to face this throughout his entire career, even when he was drafted at age 18. Some argue that James’ off-court endeavors and public perception make him the greatest of all time, paired with his longevity.
In the end, the debate between Jordan and James all comes down to opinion, and someone will undoubtedly introduce another angle to this endless conversation.
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Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.
