Michael Jordan is widely considered the best basketball player ever based on his resume, skills, and dominance across the league. The superstar shooting guard accomplished everything on a team and individual level and is the undisputed face of the 1990s decade, although some might argue he was already the best talent ever witnessed by his 1985 rookie season. What Jordan has meant to the NBA is simply surreal, because he started a new trend of sneakers, style, and play that every player has tried to mimic. Since Jordan retired, the NBA has produced some elite superstar talents to try to compete with him including LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer, and Kevin Durant, the most unique offensive player ever. We have already seen how dominant Jordan was as the man with the most accolades among all NBA players.
LeBron James has seriously thrown his name into the GOAT conversation after breaking the all-time scoring record this season. For two decades in a row, LeBron has been one of the most talented players in the world with both physical and mental gifts that allow him to dominate the game. We have already seen how LeBron James has exceeded expectations in what he has accomplished because nobody could have predicted The King would end up the all-time scoring leader, let alone a 4-time NBA champion and 4-time Finals MVP. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant accomplished everything in his own career by being tied for third with most scoring titles behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. A 6’11” forward with guard skills and an all-time great jumper, KD is a one-of-a-kind talent.
How close did LeBron James and Kevin Durant get to Jordan, in terms of combined accolades? We already saw how one comparison turned out between Jordan and LeBron when stats and major categories were taken into account, but let’s go a little further by including Kevin Durant’s career accolades. Jordan has more than double the number of LeBron’s accolades, but can this separation between the two stars get cut smaller if Durant’s accolades are included? It would be amazing to see if Jordan has more accolades than LeBron and Durant combined, but knowing the GOAT, anything is possible. Here is the career accolade comparison between Jordan and the combined achievements of LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
NBA Championships
Michael Jordan – 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 6 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020), (2017, 2018)
Michael Jordan won six NBA titles through two different three-peats with the Chicago Bulls. That is an incredible way to start the comparison there because capturing 6 titles as the best player on the team is rare and very hard to achieve. Jordan’s Bulls were the “Golden State Warriors” of his era, meaning he was spearheading the most dominant team in the world year after year once Scottie Pippen became a legitimate superstar. With Pippen by his side, Jordan won three straight between 1991 and 1993 before retiring. Once he came back for a full season, he won three more straight with the “Last Dance” coming in 1998 which capped off the GOAT’s all-time great resume.
LeBron James has a total of 4 NBA championships, going back-to-back in the 2012 and 2013 seasons as he took out the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. In 2016, James got the job done against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and in 2020, got it done with the Los Angeles Lakers in the covid-shortened season after he led the regular season in assists with 10.2 APG. Overall, James was the best player on his team every time he won a championship which meant The King managed four championships with three different teams.
Kevin Durant also won championships, going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 as a member of the “Big Four” Golden State Warriors which had the most talent in the league. Despite having a ton of pressure and hate on his shoulders for ditching the Oklahoma City Thunder and joining a 73-9 team, KD responded by winning two NBA titles. That means Jordan has as many NBA titles as LeBron and Durant combined.
NBA Finals MVP
Michael Jordan – 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 6 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020), (2017, 2018)
Every time the Chicago Bulls played a game in the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan took over. The superstar shooting guard was the best player on each of the championship Bulls teams that took down the opposition during the two separate three-peats. Jordan won Finals MVP against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, Portland Trail Blazers in 1992, and then Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns in 1993. Jordan’s second 3-peat included a win against the Seattle SuperSonics in 1996, followed by back-to-back Finals victories against the Utah Jazz led by Karl Malone and John Stockton. Jordan won every Finals MVP award in every Finals series he played in, signaling unique dominance from the GOAT.
LeBron James has 4 Finals MVPs, meaning he was the best player on each of his championship teams. LeBron was the best player in the world for his championships with the Heat, Cavs, and Lakers, and there was never even a debate. James won Finals MVP both times with the Heat despite having Dwyane Wade by his side and did the same in 2016 despite having Kyrie Irving alongside him. Finally, James won the Finals MVP in 2020 alongside Anthony Davis, signaling his talents as an all-around star. Meanwhile, Durant won back-to-back Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018, despite having Stephen Curry by his side. Once again, Jordan has as many major accolades as James and Durant combined.
NBA MVP
Michael Jordan – 5 (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 5 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013), (2014)
Michael Jordan probably deserved more than five MVP awards, but that is still a hefty haul of achievements, considering he played in a talented era. Jordan was able to earn MVP awards by being the most athletic player in the NBA, the league’s best scorer, and the most impactful superstar in the NBA. The shooting guard won four MVPs in the 1990s decade and even managed one in 1988, which was arguably the greatest season ever in terms of scoring title, MVP award, and Defensive Player of the Year haul.
LeBron James was also unlucky not to have more MVP awards because he suffered from being too big and too talented in the NBA year after year. It would have been perceived as a bias to give LeBron the MVP every year, but winning four MVP awards does signify that The King was the best player of his generation, and certainly the greatest player of the 2010s decade. Kevin Durant won the MVP award in 2014, posting a league-leading 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 5.5 APG. With LeBron and Durant having a combined 5 MVP awards, this is a comparison that is even once again. So far, this comparison is even across the three major award categories.
NBA All-Star Game MVP
Michael Jordan – 3 (1988, 1996, 1998)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 5 (2006, 2008, 2018), (2012, 2019)
The All-Star Game MVP award is not weighed as heavily as the MVP or Finals MVP award for obvious reasons, but it is still an impressive achievement for the league’s greatest players. Capturing the All-Star Game MVP essentially means that a player is the best among all All-Star players and they put on the best show for the fans in a normally tightly contested game. Jordan won three All-Star MVP awards, and they came in a span of 10 years. Jordan’s All-Star Game MVP in 1988 was probably his best, as he dropped 40 points in the game.
LeBron James also has 3 All-Star Game MVP awards, a spectacular achievement. The King had his most recent trophy given to him in the 2018 season when he dropped a solid all-around stat line of 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists against Team Stephen Curry to win the game 148-145. Alongside him is Kevin Durant, a superstar forward who managed two All-Star Game MVP awards, the latest coming in 2019 as a member of the Golden State Warriors. Durant poured in 31 points on 6 three-point makes, as he became one of six players in NBA history with at least 1 regular season MVP, 2 Finals MVPs, 2 All-Star MVPs (Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James). Finally, James and Durant have an edge over the one man, Michael Jordan.
NBA Defensive Player Of The Year
Michael Jordan – 1 (1988)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 0
Amazingly, Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan deserved the only Defensive Player of the Year Award he won. Michael was part of a dynamic defensive duo with Scottie Pippen that picked offensive players up the entire length of the court once the small forward came into his own as a superstar of his own. But in 1988, Pippen was still a rookie who played 20.9 MPG, and Jordan was forced to carry a very heavy load. Jordan won the MVP, scoring title, and Defensive Player of the Year as he posted a league-leading 3.2 SPG and added 1.6 BPG. Capable of defending four positions and wreaking havoc on defense all year long, Jordan has a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, while James and Durant don’t.
LeBron James never won a Defensive Player of the Year award, as his best chance came in 2013 when Marc Gasol won the award when the big man posted 1.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG. James averaged 1.7 SPG and 0.9 BPG during the year for the Miami Heat and was by far the most versatile defender in the league. Since then, LeBron never really had a shot at winning the valuable award. Similarly, Durant was not much of a lockdown defender compared to Jordan in the 1988 season, although his ability on defense improved when he joined Golden State. Durant is a scorer more than he is a defender, so this comparison category goes to Jordan.
NBA Rookie Of The Year
Michael Jordan – 1 (1985)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 2 (2004), (2008)
Michael Jordan had arguably the greatest rookie campaign of all time, averaging 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.4 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on 51.5% FG and 84.5% FT. Those are spectacular numbers from a 6’6” shooting guard at only 21 years old, and to nobody’s surprise, Jordan managed to make the All-Star Team and win the Rookie of the Year award. Playing all 82 games at 38.3 MPG, Michael Jordan was already the most talented player in the world out of college. Of course, as a player can only win Rookie of the Year once, he loses this category to two players.
LeBron James also had a spectacular rookie campaign, posting 20.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 41.7% FG and 75.4% FT. The King had all eyes on him because he has to be the most hyped rookie ever, and he did his part by posting 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists. James won Rookie of the Year at only 19 years old, and Kevin Durant also managed to win Rookie of the Year at 19 years old. Durant posted 20.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.4 APG while shooting 43.0% from the field, 28.8% from three, and 87.3% from the stripe. Since James and Durant were so elite as rookies, two beats one, and this one goes to the duo, as unfair as that is.
NBA Scoring Champion
Michael Jordan – 10 (1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1996,1997,1998)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 5 (2008), (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014)
There has never been an offensive player as dominant as Michael Jordan. The superstar Chicago Bulls guard won 10 scoring titles and finished his career with a 30.1 PPG scoring average (first of all-time). Armed with an automatic jumper, unstoppable athleticism, and alarming efficiency, Jordan is the greatest scorer ever, and it isn’t close. Only Wilt Chamberlain (7 scoring titles) comes close to Jordan’s insane number of scoring accolades because no other player can truly compare. Amazingly, Jordan has more scoring titles than James and Durant combined.
LeBron James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, but he is still not the greatest offensive player of all time. The King managed to win only one scoring title, and that came in 2008 when he posted 30.0 PPG on 48.4% FG, 31.5% 3-PT FG, and 71.2% FT. The big man is the greatest driver of the basketball ever, and he also improved his jumper as the years went by. But nobody would say James is a better scorer than Durant, who won four scoring titles as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. As great of a scorer as Durant is (career 27.3 PPG, which is fourth all-time), his number does not come close in terms of how many scoring titles Jordan won. Even with James and Durant combined, Jordan has double the number of scoring titles.
NBA Assist Leader
Michael Jordan – 0
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 1 (2020)
Michael Jordan was a scorer and not a passer, as he won 10 scoring titles and averaged a career 30.1 PPG, which ranks first among every NBA player ever. The shooting guard was always the primary offensive option for the Chicago Bulls, and he could rely on Scottie Pippen to handle playmaking duties. To nobody’s surprise, Michael never won a single assist title, although he did have seasons posting at least 6 APG three times, with his best season coming in 1989 (8.0 APG).
James is one of the greatest playmakers of all time, and despite being a natural small forward, he managed to lead the NBA in APG once. LeBron averaged a solid 10.2 APG during the 2020 covid-shortened season, as he led the passing aspect for the Los Angeles Lakers, while Anthony Davis led the team in scoring during the regular season (26.1 PPG). Meanwhile, similar to Jordan, Kevin Durant never won an assist title as he is a score-first player who is not the greatest playmaker. Durant averaged at least 6.0 APG once, and it came in 2022 when he dropped 6.4 APG. James has an assist title, so this edge goes to him and Durant.
NBA Steals Leader
Michael Jordan – 3 (1988, 1990, 1993)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 0
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest defensive players of all time, as he had the physical tools and fundamentals to impact that end of the court every game. The superstar shooting guard was a master at stealing the ball, using his gigantic hands to poke the ball away with ease after pushing offensive players into precarious positions. Thanks to his gigantic hands and elite basketball IQ, Mike could also play passing lanes, and he ended with 3 steals titles with a career average of 2.3 SPG.
LeBron James has a career average of 1.5 SPG, and while he is excellent at playing passing lanes and kickstarting a one-man fastbreak, he never managed to win a steals title. The King was an excellent defender in his prime, although his impact has greatly waned as he has aged. Similarly, Kevin Durant is a scorer and not a dominant defensive player, even if he was at his best during his Golden State Warriors days. Since Michael won three steals titles, he has the edge over James and Durant.
NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Michael Jordan – 2 (1987,1988)
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 0
Michael Jordan wanted to win all competitions, a trait not known to any of the league’s elite stars today. Michael won his first Dunk Contest when he beat out Jerome Kersey in the last round, showcasing his air-gliding ability as we began to see the inevitable rise of the most athletic player in the world. In 1988, the man who would go on to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and a scoring title also won the Slam Dunk Contest as he introduced the iconic free-throw line dunk with the Air Jordan style.
Unbelievably, LeBron James has never competed in a Dunk Contest. James never had the guts, or motivation to compete in the contest, and we were robbed of seeing him come up with exciting ideas. Kevin Durant also never competed in the Dunk Contest and is not considered the most exciting dunker in the league as LeBron is. Durant can throw it down in-game and put anybody on a poster, similar to James, but he did not win a contest. Jordan takes this one and has the most trophies yet again.
Total Awards And Trophies
Michael Jordan – 37
LeBron James and Kevin Durant – 30
It is never easy to compare two all-time great players, let alone three. However, it is amazing to see that Michael Jordan seems to be the better overall player in terms of scoring and defense compared to both LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Specifically, by looking at the achievements in both the regular season and playoffs, Michael Jordan has an incredible 37 accolades in this comparison compared to LeBron’s 18 and Kevin Durant’s 12, which means the Chicago Bulls legend had more accolades than The King and The Slim Reaper combined.
Michael Jordan has 13 playoff appearances, as six of them resulted in a Finals berth which gave the shooting guard 6 NBA titles without ever playing in a Game 7. LeBron has managed to make 15 playoff appearances in 20 seasons which is astonishing, while making 10 NBA Finals appearances. The biggest argument in favor of LeBron being the GOAT is his ability to carry teams on his back, no matter how talented they are. LeBron affects the game in every way, so his four titles and four Finals MVPs are his most significant accolades. Obviously, despite James making more Finals appearances, there is one clear winner when it comes to championships, Finals success, and Finals MVP awards.
Meanwhile, Durant has played 14 seasons and made the NBA Finals three times, going 2-1 thanks to his decision to join the Golden State Warriors. The superstar forward was exceptional during each Finals appearance and deserved his two Finals MVP awards. Durant is not on the level of Jordan or LeBron as an impactful player or leader, but even if he adds his accolades to James’, there is still no comparison. Jordan has more accolades than two players that occupy most top-15 player lists, an amazing fact to consider.
A 6-0 Finals record with six rings beats out a combined 6-7 Finals record. MJ seems to be a better player in the playoffs, considering his perfection on the brightest stage of them all. LeBron went 4-6 in the Finals, Durant went 2-1 in the Finals, and Jordan won more NBA titles, Finals MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year, and scoring titles than both combined. It is truly amazing to state that a third superstar player would need to be included in this comparison because, as it stands, Jordan has more accolades than LeBron and Durant combined. If there was ever a GOAT debate, it is over now.
