National Basketball Association

Think LeBron-MJ debate still no contest? Read, and watch, below

Published Jun. 10, 2015 4:35 a.m. ET

foxsports

Could what has long been a casual discussion be on the verge of erupting into a raging debate?

As LeBron James puts on an NBA Finals series perhaps unmatched in the history of the sport, putting his Cavaliers up 2-1 on the Warriors after Tuesday night’s 96-91 win, is it time to give credence to the argument James is playing on a level comparable to Michael Jordan?

For this series, the answer could very well be yes.

One of the first arguments for Jordan as basketball’s greatest player is His Airness’ supporting cast. Aside from fellow Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, Jordan won his six titles in eight seasons in Chicago with the likes of Bill Cartwright, Ron Harper, Horace Grant, Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc and Dennis Rodman (OK, at least he is one of the greatest rebounders ever).

But James, without injured All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, took the floor in Game 3 joined in the starting lineup by Timofey Mozgov, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova. On Tuesday night, they combined for 39 points — James scored 40. LeBron had more assists in Game 3 (eight) than the rest of the Cavs — starters and reserves — combined (seven). Thompson at least did his best impression of The Worm with a game-high 13 rebounds (just edging James’ 12).

And that was one game after perhaps the best game of James' postseason career: a triple-double in an overtime thriller on the road that evened the series and felt as exhausting to watch as it was to play.

But this is about James and Jordan. So here is how James stacks up in this Finals to Jordan’s three best Finals.

	James (2015 vs. Golden State)	Jordan (1993 vs. Phoenix)	Jordan (1992 vs. Portland)	Jordan (1991 vs. L.A. Lakers)
Games	3	6	6	5
MPG	47.3	45.7	42.3	44.0
PPG	41.0	41.0	35.8	31.2
RPG	12.0	8.5	4.8	6.6
APG	8.3	6.3	6.5	11.4
SPG	1.7	1.7	1.7	2.8