LOS ANGELES — LeBron James overtook Michael Jordan on Wednesday night on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. But LeBron will never truly overtake Jordan.
Ever.
LeBron is working on the sequel to Space Jam, with Jordan having starred in the original. How appropriate: Jordan first, and LeBron right behind.
Forever.
LeBron will keep moving up the NBA’s scoring list, overtaking Kobe Bryant for third place. Overtaking Karl Malone for second place. And, ultimately, probably overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s reigning all-time scorer with 38,387 points. Abdul-Jabbar was 6,107 points ahead of LeBron before the Los Angeles Lakers played the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at Staples Center.
By other criteria, LeBron simply cannot overtake Jordan. Criteria that is hard to quantify but must be considered.
As Scottie Pippen, Jordan’s former wingman with the Chicago Bulls, recently put it: “When I look at LeBron, he’s not what Michael was as a player. He’s not even what Kobe Bryant was as a player. So, when you talk about trying to compare Michael’s instinct, his ability to take over games, his ability to want to have the last shot, LeBron doesn’t have that gene. That’s not in him.’’
LeBron has etched a special place in NBA history by, among other things, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 to their first NBA title — Cleveland’s first major pro sports title in 52 years.
Chicago's Michael Jordan dunks during the 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 against Utah for two of his 32,292 career points. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)
Off the court, he’s been just as impressive, opening an $8 million public school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio; pledging up to $42 million to provide four-year scholarships for underserved students in Akron; and overseeing a business empire that will be responsible for the sequel of Space Jam — or better titled, Space Jam 2.
Because Jordan will always be No. 1, for these reasons:
—His unblemished record in the NBA Finals: Six appearances, six titles. (Lest you forget, LeBron is 3-6.)
—For a transcendent skill set and charisma that turned Air Jordans into the most coveted sneakers in history and helped transform Nike into a corporate giant.
—For, upon buying majority interest in the Charlotte Hornets in 2010, becoming the first former NBA player to own an NBA team.
Jordan also owns the space at the top of the mythical NBA mantle for greatness, where he cannot be overtaken.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Josh Peter on Twitter @joshlpeter11
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