Michael Jordan Phoned ESPN’s Michael Wilbon Urging Him to Ease Criticism of LeBron James
michael-jordan-asked-michael-wilbon-stop-lebron-criticism
Hall of Famer Michael Jordan once called longtime ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon with a blunt request: stop criticizing LeBron James, Wilbon recently revealed on the “Rich Eisen Show.”
According to Wilbon, the conversation took place during one of their regular phone chats. Jordan, a close friend of the broadcaster, said he was uncomfortable with how harshly Wilbon had been assessing James, a player often at the center of basketball’s greatest-of-all-time debate.
Jordan’s Career Highlights
The six-time NBA champion averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. His résumé includes five MVP awards, six Finals MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year, three steals titles and 10 scoring crowns. Jordan still holds the single-game playoff scoring record with 63 points and remains first all-time in career points per game.
LeBron’s Expanding Legacy
James carries career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists across stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. He owns four MVPs, four championships and four Finals MVPs, and is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. James is also the only player with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists and recently became the first to top 40,000 career points.
Accolades Comparison
Jordan earned 14 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA nods and nine All-Defensive team honors, while James has accumulated 20 All-Star appearances, 20 All-NBA selections and six All-Defensive recognitions. James is also the lone player to win Finals MVP with three different franchises.
Jordan’s Public Stance
Despite frequent debates pitting the two superstars against each other, Jordan has publicly downplayed cross-era comparisons. “We played in different eras,” he said in 2020. “He’s an unbelievable player, one of the best in the world. I’m a fan of his…he is a heck of a basketball player without a doubt.”
The phone call to Wilbon underscores Jordan’s willingness to defend today’s stars—even those often measured against his own legacy.
Source: Hoops Wire
