Ray Allen supports Jordan: Counting the five major gaps that James can t cross in "The God of Basketball"

When LeBron James kept setting records on the long journey of his career and launched an attack on the throne of the best player in history, the remarks of "Gentleman Thunder" Ray Allen once again ignited the fans' heated discussion of "who is GOAT (best in history)". Ray Allen bluntly stated that James wanted to surpass Jordan. In his opinion, this "God of Basketball" who had played against him on the court was almost omnipotent except for being slightly inferior in passing, and James could not reach Jordan's height in many key dimensions. What kind of competitive logic and historical considerations are hidden behind this evaluation?

1. Dominance dimension: the difference between absolute dominance and lasting pilot

Jordan's dominance on the field is terrifying. He led his team to the NBA Finals 6 times, won all 6 times, and won the Finals Most Valuable Player (FMVP) 6 times, with a winning rate of 100%. During the Bulls dynasty, Jordan not only defeated his opponent with averaging 33.6 points in the finals, but also made his opponent afraid with his oppressive defense and his big heart performance at critical moments. He has won the scoring champion for seven consecutive seasons and was selected as the All-Season Team 10 times. Behind these statistics is Jordan's unparalleled control over the game. He can change the direction of the game at any time and is a well-deserved "stadium master".

In contrast, although James holds 4 championship trophys and 4 FMVPs, the finals win rate is only 44.4%. Although James has shown amazing staying power and comprehensiveness in his career and has staged a stunning reversal in the finals many times, there is a clear gap with Jordan in terms of the sheer dominance of the championship and the efficiency of winning the championship. Jordan forged his dynasty with his absolute strength of "winning in the present", while James accumulated honors through his long career. The two were completely different in the way they presented their dominance.

2. Competitive style: The difference between extreme offense and defense and comprehensive balance

Ray Allen emphasized that Jordan "can do everything", which is fully reflected in his performance on both ends of offense and defense. On the offensive end, Jordan has a variety of scoring methods, and mid-range jump shots are unsolvable. His "flyer" ability to stagnate the air with the iconic backward jump shot has become a nightmare for defensive players; on the defensive end, Jordan was selected into the best defensive team 10 times. With his outstanding physical fitness and defensive awareness, he can effectively limit the top scorers in the league. This style of good offense and defense and extremely aggressive offensive end makes Jordan a benchmark for both offense and defense.

James is also a comprehensive player. He has a strong body, can score strongly in the inside and make long shots from the outside, and is also an excellent organizer. However, James' defensive performance is not as stable and extremely deterrent as Jordan, and he has only been selected for the All-Defensive Team for one team in his career. Jordan pursues the ultimate on both offense and defense, while James prefers to seek balance in all aspects. This style difference makes Jordan better in the purity of his personal competitive skills.

3. Critical moment: The choice between the true nature of the big heart and the core of tactics. The stage of the playoffs is the key battlefield for testing the quality of superstars. Jordan averaged 33.4 points per game in the playoffs. In the sixth game of the 1998 Finals, facing the Jazz's strict defense, Jordan hit the "One Century Shot" and led the Bulls to the sixth championship. This classic moment became one of the most representative key goals in basketball history. Jordan seems to be born for big scenes. The more critical the moment, the better his performance. This big heart trait makes him the light of hope in the team's desperate situation.

James also had many highlights at critical moments, such as leading the Cavaliers 1-3 behind and reversed the Warriors to win the championship in the 2016 Finals. But in some key games, James has also been controversial for choosing to pass instead of personal attack. Jordan is accustomed to forcibly ending the game with his personal ability, while James is more inclined to make decisions based on tactics and situations. Although both methods have their rationality, Jordan's domineering aura at a critical moment is undoubtedly more in line with the fans' imagination of "superhero".

4. Influence of the times: The shaping of cultural symbols and commercial legends

Jordan's influence has long surpassed the field of basketball and has become a cultural symbol. His No. 23 jersey, the "Flying Man" logo and the "Air Jordan" series of sneakers not only promoted the popularity of basketball around the world, but also had a profound impact on the popular culture and commercial markets. Jordan brought the NBA to the world, and his competitive spirit inspired countless basketball enthusiasts and became a symbol of an era.

James is also a business giant in the basketball industry. He has a huge fan base on social media and has extremely high commercial value. However, in terms of the depth and breadth of cultural influence, the image of "God of Basketball" created by Jordan occupies a more unique and unshakable position in public perception. This cultural influence is difficult for James to surpass in the short term.

5. Team cohesion: the construction of leadership temperament and championship culture In terms of team building, Jordan created the championship culture of the Bulls dynasty with his strong sense of competition and leadership charm. His extreme desire for victory infected every teammate around him. Under the leadership of Jordan, stars such as Pippen and Rodman fully utilized their own advantages and jointly created a brilliant Bulls dynasty. Jordan used his own way to make the team cohesion reach its peak, bringing a group of excellent players into an invincible champion team.

James is also an excellent leader. He formed the three giants with Wade and Bosh during the Heat, and led his hometown team to win the championship during the Cavaliers, showing strong leadership.. But compared to Jordan's ability to deeply implant the championship culture into the team's genes, there is still a certain gap in James' shaping team cohesion and inheriting the championship culture.

Rai Allen's support for Jordan stems from his deep understanding of Jordan's unique status and outstanding achievements in basketball history. Although James' career is equally brilliant, he has been constantly challenging Jordan in many statistics and honors, from multiple dimensions such as dominance, competitive style, performance at critical moments, influence of the times, and team cohesion, the legend created by Jordan is difficult to replicate. Perhaps as Ray Allen said, James is enough to be among the top five great players in history, but in front of "God of Basketball" Jordan, the road to surpassing is still long and difficult. This debate about "GOAT" will continue to become a topic of relish for basketball fans over time.