"I think he would be an average player in our league" - Michael Jordan on a pre-NBA LeBron James in 2003
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This was the most exciting changing of the guard—maybe ever. Looking back to April 16, 2003—Michael Jordan's last NBA game—LeBron James was in Cavaliers threads two months later as the top pick in the NBA Draft. Tabbed as "The Chosen One" and having graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a teenager, LeBron's legend mounted as the world prepared for his NBA debut.
Jordan was a fierce competitor. He would rarely comment about other stars during his NBA career. You could imagine what he felt when asked about James, who was drafted to a team he used to anhiliate. LeBron revered MJ, as did most athletes. But most athletes didn't get a full quote from Mike like the 18-year-old kid from St. Vincent St. Mary did.
"Is he capable? Yes. He has the skills that most 18-year-olds do not have. Now, if you equate that to playing in the league, I think he would be an average player in our league right now with the potential to be a better player. To say that he can step in at the same level as a Tracy McGrady or a Kobe Bryant would be unfair to LeBron James," MJ said, according to MSG Network. (h/t Anthony Olivieri, ESPN.com)
Jordan understood what LeBron's aura meant to basketball at the time. Then again, unlike James, who has always been vocal about his contemporaries throughout his career, he didn't ooze praise publicly for anybody. The King had massive expectations on his shoulders at the time. Aside from seeing how he would pan out, people were interested in seeing No. 23's body language during his NBA debut. Would he look nervous? Intimidated? How would he handle the stage?
LeBron's incredible debut
For most highly sought-after rookies, their first professional game is filled with nervousness and anxiety. For James, when he took the court in Sacramento for his NBA debut, while the NBA stage was new for him, playing in front of a national audience had already become second nature to him as a teenager.
Months earlier, LeBron—three weeks from his 18th birthday—participated in his first-ever nationally-televised game and was the lead story on SportsCenter and Pardon the Interruption for hours leading up to tipoff.
With thousands in the arena and millions watching at home, this would be the moment James would either have his coming-out party or fall from grace with the world watching. Here's the short answer: He left viewers' jaws hanging.
In the first quarter, the young Cavs phenom played every dribble and scored 12 points on 6-10 shooting. If there was ever such a thing as standing up to pressure, this—by definition—was undoubtedly it. James compiled more SportsCenter highlights than many players do playing the game for a decade. Late in the period, he stole the ball three times. With one, the Akron native sprinted to the other end and threw the ball down like he belonged in this league.
It was the first of hundreds of right-handed jams and the first of his many trademark transition tomahawks. Along with his 25 points, James posted nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals. Though the Cavaliers lost handily, no one seemed to care—not even Kings fans who were caught up in the lure of LeBron.
Taking his cue from MJ
"I'm not trying to be Jordan. I'm not trying to compare myself to Jordan or Magic [Johnson] or [Larry] Bird. A lot of people are, but I'm not. They have their own legacies. I'm trying to build my own. I know Michael, but I don't communicate with him. I'm just trying to be me," James said, according to Chicago Sun Times. (h/t Anthony Olivieri, ESPN.com)
This quote spoke the essence of LeBron's career. The irony is that his inverse playstyle to Jordan has encouraged relentless comparisons throughout his storied career. James was right: he wasn't trying to be Jordan. Was he hoping his ability to capture the eyes and ears of the public would one day be Jordan-esque? Definitely. But did he want to play like him? The answer to that is a resounding no.
James, not being more like Jordan, has encouraged criticism throughout his career—mostly at the end of games when he isn't hesitant to make the "right" play by passing the ball to an open teammate.
Off the court, James has surpassed MJ, no matter how you slice it. His status as the only NBA player ever to achieve billionaire status while actively playing speaks volumes about how effectively he has leveraged his career. On the court, that's a debate that'll never settle. All LeBron can do is continue playing at a high level and add more to his resume.