LeBon James is about to beat another playoff record. To some, it may come as a surprise as he’s known mostly for his scoring, rebounding, assists, and chase-down blocks.
But according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, James is just four steals away from passing NBA legend Scottie Pippen on the all-time playoff list.
Pippen is the all-time leader in steals in the playoffs with a total of 395. James is trailing close by with 392. Others part of the top five are Michael Jordan (376), Magic Johnson (358), John Stockton (358).
Pippen, regarded as one of the best defenders in NBA history, has in fact spoken much about the Cavs star. Pippen has been asked time and time again on who’s better: James or his former teammate Michael Jordan.
To which, Pippen said in First Take:
“The numbers don’t lie. He’s right there. He probably will never catch him in terms of MVP, but in terms of statistics, LeBron is right there. And when you look across the board — not just scoring — check his assists, check his rebounds … he’s probably ahead of Jordan.”
While Pippen did not say outrightly that James is better than Jordan, he acknowledges that the four-time MVP is right up there with one of the greats.
His statement adds an interesting layer to the debate on who’s the real GOAT. After all, he spent a significant amount of time with Jordan. They won six championships together and has always been considered Jordan’s sidekick. Without him, people believe that Jordan wouldn’t win those six rings.