Laimbeer Picks LeBron Over Jordan, Says Jordan Could Not Have Led Current Cavs Team To Finals
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - As a member of the Detroit Pistons teams that won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, former center Bill Laimbeer battled the legendary Michael Jordan for years, but he did not speak particularly highly of the six-time NBA champion Thursday in an interview with Dan Patrick.
Asked to compare Jordan in his prime with current superstar LeBron James in his prime, Laimbeer gave his answer without hesitation.
"There's no question that I would take LeBron James," Laimbeer said. "He can do more. Michael Jordon could score, make big shots, and look spectacular at times with wild, flying dunks, but LeBron can get you 18 rebounds, LeBron can get you 15 assists, if he chooses to, or he can score 50 if he wanted to, so the triple threat that he poses is just phenomenal, and then the size of this guy, he just physically dominates. It's just - it's impressive."
Laimbeer dismissed championships as a measure that would point to Jordan as superior.
"You look at what LeBron has in the Finals right now," Laimbeer said. "With the role players he has around him right now, anybody else in this league or anybody else in the world, could they have led the team that he has around him to the Finals? I don't think so.
"Jordan couldn't have led this team to the Finals," Laimbeer added without prompting.
Laimbeer continued with another unsolicited comment about why he favors James over Jordan.
"LeBron came into the league knowing how to play basketball and involve his teammates," Laimbeer said. "Jordan had to learn that, and then they had to assemble some great teammates around him in order for him to win."