Bird or LeBron: Who is better?

LeBron James Vs Larry Bird: A Statistical Comparison


I'm going with Larry just because he is less ball dominant and more skilled.

In terms of scoring, LeBron is more dominant but Bird is more skilled. He is a 50/40/90 guy who could score from all three levels. He would've thrived in today's NBA.

In terms of passing, I'm going with Bird. Casuals will look at Bird's assist averages and say he was the inferior passer but the eye test clearly shows Bird was an elite passer.


What sticks out most is the skill and creativity of the passes, which are more difficult than LeBron's usual kick-outs to open shooters.

Also, it is the quickness and decisiveness of his passes. People always ask why I take into account time of possession when ranking/rating passers. It's the only way to use stats to recognize elite passers who don't have a high assist average and who don't dominate the ball.

Rebounding goes to Bird.

Efficiency goes to LeBron. He is more dominant in the paint.

Defense over the career is about equal but LeBron was better in his prime.

What do ya'll think? LeBron or Bird?


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