LeBron James Versus Michael Jordan: Scottie Pippen Must be Crazy

"Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to play the game," Pippen said Friday on Mike & Mike In The Morning on ESPN Radio. "But I may go as far as to say LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will but he keeps everybody involved." (source: ESPNChicago.com)

Wait a minute. Crazy man say what?

Look, after LeBron's career is over, perhaps we could sit down and have that conversation. But to say that now smacks of jealousy to me.

Maybe Pippen's relationship with MJ wasn't as good as people think? I'm not sure, but there really is no other way to look at a comment like this.

On the one hand, it is an obvious reference to LeBron's ball distribution abilities versus Michael's tendency to hog the ball, especially in crucial situations.

But who else other than Jordan would you want taking that last shot?

Memo to Pippen: you were a great player, and the Bulls don't win those six titles without you. But Jordan made you. Without him, you are a fine player but no Hall of Famer.

And to go on to suggest that James was better defensively than Jordan is just not true. Everyone remembers the high flying act—Air Jordan—but Michael was outstanding on defense as well.

"Not only will LeBron dominate from the offensive end as well, but he's also doing it on the defensive end, which really makes him the complete package."

And Jordan was not?

I don't know about you, but nothing I heard Pippen say convinces me that James is a better player than Jordan was. Again, maybe someday but certainly not now.

Hell, he hasn't even won one championship yet, and we're crowning him the best ever?

Don't get me wrong, he is a great player. He is probably the best player in the game today. But Jordan willed his teams to victory. He was great offensively, defensively and he was a leader.

Meanwhile, as good as he is, LeBron doesn't really want to take that last shot. He is a distributor, sure, but not exactly a leader.

Now, there isn't much not to like in LeBron's game, but Jordan is an icon, so anyone who suggests that another mere mortal is better than he was had better come armed with more ammunition than Pippen has.

Meanwhile, the fact that this is coming from Jordan's main running mate hurts. And it sounds pithy.

Let the man win one title before starting the crazy talk, will ya?