This Wild Stat Causes Charles Barkley to Say Michael Jordan Is Better Than LeBron James

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Nov 29, 2024 2:19 AM ET

As LeBron plays his 22nd season, on the verge of snapping several more records, and averaging nearly a triple-double each game, it's appears the never-ending NBA GOAT debate will be with us all season. On Tuesday, former All Star Charles Barkley had yet another entry into the conversation. Barkley dropped a statistical bombshell that he thinks should silence some of LeBron James's advocates. Despite playing seven more seasons than Michael Jordan, James still trails His Airness in one of basketball's most telling metrics: 30-point games.

The numbers speak for themselves. Jordan racked up 562 30-point performances in just 15 seasons, while James, currently in his 22nd campaign, sits at 559. This disparity wasn't lost on Barkley, who couldn't hide his disbelief on Inside the NBA:

"That's an amazing stat. Now, I don't get into the debate about greatness - LeBron has played how many more seasons than Michael Jordan and he's still behind him? That's crazy."

Though a huge fan of LeBron, Barkley is never shy about giving us his honest opinion:

"Listen, I love LeBron, but for him to be that far behind Michael Jordan and played probably eight more season. Come on, man. Y'all need to stop that."

While it's worth noting that James's longevity and consistency are unprecedented in NBA history, Barkley's point stands - for those looking to crown the GOAT, Jordan's scoring prowess in a shorter timeframe offers a compelling argument for those who favor peak dominance over career longevity.