Why do fans now think that James is the best in history? Because I have never seen Jordan play

On May 17, discussions on James and Jordan's historical status have always been one of the most controversial topics in the basketball world. As time goes by, more and more young fans have begun to regard LeBron James as the number one person in NBA history. Behind this phenomenon is both objective factors of the changes of the times and the deep logic of basketball development.

### 1. The cognitive gap created by the differences in the times

For fans born after the 1990s, Michael Jordan's glory exists more in highlights and stories from his elders. According to Baidu Baijiahao data, Jordan's last championship has been more than 25 years ago, and James has remained at his peak since entering the league in 2003. This time span has led to essential differences in the viewing experience of the two generations of fans - young fans have witnessed the complete journey of James being selected as an All-Star, a historical scoring champion and four championships for 19 consecutive years, but they can only understand Jordan's legend through digitally repaired images.

NetEase Sports column once pointed out that modern fans tend to believe that "seeing is true". James' every move in the social media era has been recorded in all aspects. His feats such as reversing the Warriors 1-3 in the 2016 Finals and leading the Lakers to win the championship in 2020 are spread in real time through high-definition live broadcasts. This immersive experience is far more impactful than watching videos more than 20 years ago. The technical statistics of the Jordan era are relatively simple, and key data such as game rhythm and defensive intensity are difficult to compare intuitively, making it easier for young fans to accept the quantitatively proof-making active superstars.

### 2. Changes in the judgment criteria under the theory of basketball evolution

The tactical system of contemporary basketball has undergone fundamental changes with the Jordan era. Sina Sports analysts believe that the modern NBA emphasizes more space utilization, three-point shooting and position blurring. As an epoch-making "ball-handling forward", James perfectly fits this evolutionary trend. He can not only hit the basket like a traditional inside line, but also organizes offense and hit three-pointers. This kind of versatility has been highly praised in the data era. In contrast, although Jordan's mid-range singles skills are unsolvable, there is a certain generation gap with modern basketball concepts.

In-depth reports included in Baidu Encyclopedia show that James maintains more than ten records of playoff scores, assists, steals, etc., with unprecedented career length and stability. In a contemporary evaluation system that emphasizes "longevity", the stable output of 20 years is more convincing than a short-term explosion. Jordan's special experience of retirement from two times puts his accumulated data at a natural disadvantage, which has become an important consideration today when data analysis is prevalent.

### 3. The idol-shaping mechanism in the social media era

Mobile Internet has completely changed the way the image of stars is spread. Baijiahao research shows that the James team is well versed in the operation of new media. The establishment of its charity school "I Promise" and the vocalization of social issues and other off-site behaviors are widely disseminated through short video platforms, shaping a high-quality idol image that conforms to the values ​​of Generation Z. Jordan was active in the traditional media era, and his hard-core image of "court killer" lacked an emotional connection with young people.

It is worth noting that James's career coincides with the social media outbreak, and his Twitter followers (over 50 million) are more than three times that of Jordan. This difference in visibility directly affects fans' cognition - young people receive massive information about James every day, but rarely get in touch with Jordan's original game scene. As NetEase Sports pointed out, the information cocoon effect invisibly amplifies the historical status of active stars.

### 4. Cultural output in the wave of globalization

As the biggest beneficiary of the NBA's globalization strategy, James' international influence has the advantages of the times. According to a survey report included by Baidu, 68% of Chinese fans born in the 1990s began to pay attention to the NBA through James, and the annual sales of its signature shoe series that cooperated with Nike is 1.5 times that of the AJ series. This kind of business success in reverse strengthens its historical status cognition, while Jordan's image of "God of Basketball" is more at the cultural symbol level.

But it should be emphasized that this generational cognitive difference does not mean an absolute historical evaluation. The latest poll in 2025 of professional media Sports Illustrated shows that among the senior fans over 45 years old, the proportion of support for Jordan as GOAT is still as high as 79%. This reminds us that the judgment of historical status can never be separated from the context of the specific era - just like fans in the 1960s firmly believe that Russell beats Chamberlain, and each era needs its own heroic narrative.

### Conclusion: Rational cognition under the dynamic historical view

The essence of basketball history is a process of continuous reinterpretation. James's comprehensive technicality and career planning wisdom have indeed set a benchmark for the new era, but the dominance demonstrated by Jordan in a more primitive competitive environment is also unreplicable. Perhaps as legendary coach Phil Jackson said: "Comparing superstars from different eras is like comparing Renaissance and Impressionism - they each define their own greatness. "For fans, cherishing the opportunity to witness legends at the moment is far more valuable than participating in Guan Gong's fight against Qin Qiong's debate. After all, the debate about the number one in history is endless, but the touch and motivation that basketball brings to the world is the true eternal value of this sport.