Laimbeer says 'no question' he'd take LeBron James over Jordan

By foxsports
Published

Bill Laimbeer, the baddest of the old Detroit Piston Bad Boys, never did have a fond appreciation for Michael Jordan.

So it's no surprise that he would side with LeBron James in the raging LeBron-or-Michael debate.

Laimbeer took a stand during an interview Thursday morning on the "Dan Patrick Show."

"There's no question I would take LeBron," Laimbeer said. "He can do more. I mean, Michael Jordan could score, make big shots and look spectacular at times with wild, flying dunks, but LeBron can get you 18 rebounds, LeBron can get you 15 assists if he chooses to, or he can score 50 if he wanted to.

"The triple threat that he poses is just phenomenal, and then the size that he's got (6-foot-8, 250 pounds compared to Jordan at 6-6, 215 during his playing days), he just physically dominates."

Laimbeer and Jordan were on opposite sides of a heated rivalry between the Pistons -- the so-called Bad Boys -- and the emerging Bulls in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Laimbeer, in fact, joined teammate Isiah Thomas in leaving the floor and not shaking hands with Jordan and the Bulls after getting swept in the 1991 East Conference final.

The Bulls won in a rout, 115-94, on the Pistons' home court, ending Detroit's streak of three straight NBA Finals appearances. It was a changing of the guard in East. The Pistons were widely criticized for not showing more class in defeat.

The video of that snub is shown during this interview with Thomas a couple years ago on NBA TV.

During the interview with Patrick, Laimbeer made it clear that he doesn't think Jordan could do what James is doing these days for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"Look at what LeBron has in the Finals right now," Laimbeer said. "Anybody else in this league or anybody else in the world, could they have led the team he has around him right now to the Finals?

"I don't think so. Jordan couldn't have led this team to the Finals."

Laimbeer added, "LeBron came into the league knowing how to play basketball and involve his teammates. Jordan had to learn that, and then they had to assemble some great teammates around him in order for him to win."

Was it all sincere respect for James and just Laimbeer's honest opinion? Or, perhaps, a way to take another shot at Jordan, too?

Probably a little of both.