The debate over the greatest of all time (GOAT) is often extended to how the legends performed late in their careers. When asked if LeBron James’s current tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers resembles Michael Jordan’s final years with the Washington Wizards, former NBA player and coach Brian Shaw offered a decisive “No,” citing two critical factors: LeBron’s extraordinary physical longevity and the evolution of the modern NBA game.
The Physical Anomaly: LeBron’s Unprecedented Condition
Shaw’s primary point of differentiation focuses on LeBron James’s sustained physical condition, which he suggests is unmatched in the league today and incomparable to Jordan’s state during his Wizards comeback.
“No. LeBron physically just as a specimen, I don’t think there’s anybody in the league who has the body that he has and been able to maintain it the way he did,” Shaw remarked.
Jordan’s return to the Wizards (2001–2003) came after a three-year hiatus from the NBA, and while he played 142 games and averaged over 21 points per game, he was clearly past his physical prime. In contrast, James, well into his 20th-plus season, has continued to play heavy minutes and operate as the primary engine for the Lakers, a testament to his massive investment in personal fitness and recovery.
A Different Era: The 3-Point Revolution vs. The ’90s Grit
Beyond individual physique, Shaw highlighted the vastly different eras in which the players finished their careers. Shaw, who won three championships with Jordan’s rival Lakers, emphasized the extreme physicality of Jordan’s time, which took a greater toll on players.
“The game is different now. It’s predicated on 3-point shooting,” Shaw explained. “It was a lot more physical. When Jordan played, he had to go through the Pistons and the Knicks who were very physical; so it was just two different times.”
The modern NBA emphasizes spacing, pace, and three-point shooting, which can be less taxing on the body than the bruising, isolation-heavy basketball of the late 80s and 90s. The notorious “Bad Boy” Pistons and the fierce New York Knicks of the era subjected players like Jordan to relentless contact that simply isn’t permitted under current league rules.
In short, while both legends returned or played past the typical retirement age, Shaw argues that the unique combination of LeBron’s body maintenance and the softening of the NBA’s physical style renders any direct comparison between their late-career success narratives inaccurate.
