Taking the foundation of team building as the standard, James is the best cornerstone of team building, even Jordan is not as good as him

On May 17, in the long history of the NBA, the debate on "who is the best cornerstone of team building" has never stopped. Michael Jordan's six-champion myth and unparalleled dominance have allowed him to occupy this throne for a long time, but if "comprehensiveness", "sustainability" and "team adaptability" are the core standards, LeBron James may be the more ideal choice. His all-round attributes, leadership and inclusiveness to the team system even surpass Jordan's legendary aura and become a more perfect cornerstone for team building in the modern basketball context.

### **1. All-roundness: Evolution from "single-point blast" to "system support"**

Jordan's scoring ability is the top in history, with a record of 10 scoring titles and a career average of 30.1 points per game so far. But basketball is a five-person sport, and the limitations of a single scorer may become a hidden danger in team building. In contrast, James has shown a rare comprehensiveness since entering the league: his career averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and his playoff data has been comprehensively improved to 28.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists. He is not only a scorer, but also an offensive engine, defensive core and tactical fulcrum.

- **Offensive end**: James can be competent in the five positions from point guard to center, and can not only activate the shooter group through breakthrough passes (such as the 2013 Heat three-point rain), but also take over the game at critical moments (27+11+11 of the 2016 Finals G7). His passing vision and overall perspective make teammates better—from Mo Williams to Kevin Love, role players always play career highlights around James.

- **Defensive end**: James was selected into the Best Defensive Team five times in his peak period, and almost won DPOY in 2013. His defense replacement ability covers the number one to the number five, and this flexibility is the ideal core of the modern basketball "unlimited defense replacement" system. In contrast, although Jordan was selected for the first defense nine times, due to his height of 1.98 meters and the Bulls' defensive system (relying on Rodman and Pippen and other defenders), his defensive influence is more concentrated on the back line.

### **2. Adaptation: Compatibility from "spreading stars" to "grassroots counterattack"**

Jordan's success is inseparable from Phil Jackson's triangular offense and top supporters such as Pippen and Rodman. When Jordan retired for the first time in 1993, the Bulls still won 55 wins, which indirectly proves that the system itself is mature enough. James' career has shown stronger "plug and play" attributes:

- **Level of Leading the Team**: In 2007, 22-year-old James led the Cavaliers to the Finals with a single core, and the second in charge of the team is Larry Hughes, who averaged 12.8 points per game; in 2018, 33-year-old James entered the Finals with Love (injured in the playoffs) and a group of character players again, and G1 scored 51 points and almost overturned the Warriors. This ability to "carry one team" rarely appears in Jordan's career - Jordan was eliminated in the first round for three consecutive years before Pippen's growth.

- **System Inclusiveness**: James can adapt to any tactical style. At the Heat, he played without the ball and cooperated with Wade; during the Cavaliers 2.0 period, he led the "one-star shooting"; in the Lakers, he transformed into a master of field control. Jordan's system relies more on "superstar singles + defensive counterattack" and has higher functional requirements for character players (for example, a pure shooter like Cole).

### **3. Sustainability: From the "Peak Dynasty" to the "Twenty Years of Evergreen"**

Jordan's two three consecutive championships were great, but his 13-season career (excluding the Wizards' comeback) and two mid-time retirements forced the Bulls to rebuild. James's stable output for 20 years provides the team with a longer-term construction window:

- **Health Management**: James's career attendance rate is as high as 94%, and his total score in the playoffs exceeded 8,000 points first in history. Even at the age of 38, he can still average 25 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game. This persistence allows the team to avoid the risk of a sudden decline in the core.

- **Business Value**: James' influence is far beyond the basketball court. The Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers who he played for all doubled their market value, and Cleveland has changed from a "sports desert" to a championship city due to his return. Jordan's commercial value is more concentrated on personal brands (such as AJ), while James directly drives the industrial upgrading of the entire team and the city.

### **4. The demands of the times: the "ultimate answer" of modern basketball **

Contemporary basketball emphasizes space, speed and omnipotence, and James is precisely the pioneer of this trend. His playing style foresees the evolution of basketball in the future:

- **Digital contribution**: James' career PER value is 27.3, second in history, second in history to win contribution (WS) 249.5, first in history, and BPM (11.7) in the playoffs is even ahead of the gap. These high-order data prove that his influence on the game is not limited to scoring.

- **Globalization Vision**: James' leadership on and off the court (such as the chairman of the Player Union, social activist) makes him a natural leader in the locker room. And Jordan's "tyrant-like management" (such as insulting teammates) may backfire in today's player culture.

### **Conclusion: The "cornerstone logic" beyond the times**

Jordan is the god of basketball, but James may be a better choice for team building. His versatility allows the coach to design any tactics around him, his durability gives the team a decade of championship wins, and his leadership brings together the locker room and fans. As Pat Riley said: "LeBron is the only player in history who can play the role of Magic and Jordan at the same time." In a modern sports industry that requires long-term planning and risk control, James' existence means lower reconstruction costs and higher probability of success - this is the true meaning of "the cornerstone of team building".