Easy For Michael Jordan To Criticize LeBron James

While playing in celebrity golf tournament this past weekend, Michael Jordan was asked his opinion of LeBron James leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

"There was no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry, called up Magic and said 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team," Jordan said. "I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

I think it's very easy for Jordan to say that. After all, he played with Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc and other good players. Both John Paxson and Steve Kerr knocked down huge shots in the NBA Finals while playing with Jordan. Jordan won six championships playing with those guys.

Who's the best player that James played with? Mo Williams? Antawn Jamison? Williams was nowhere to be seen in the last two playoff seasons. Jamison was abused by an old Kevin Garnett with bad knees.

Even though Jordan is the greatest ever to play the game, the difference between he and Pippen isn't as big as the difference between James and Williams or James and Jamison.

If Jordan was ever in the position James was, he may have done the same thing. Fortunately for Jordan, the Bulls built teams that he could win with and he had no problem recruiting players to play with him in Chicago.

Jordan is certainly allowed to voice his opinion about the decision James made. It's just very easy to knock it when he played with better players than James has ever played with. Even though Jordan is the best ever, I am not sure that even he could have done more with the Cleveland supporting cast than James did.

The fact is no player, no matter how great, has won a championship by himself. James felt that he had to leave the Cavaliers to play alongside better talent to have that chance at a championship. James was forced to make a tough decision. Jordan was fortunate enough not to have to.