"Why is he expected to win when the GOAT didn't" - Gilbert Arenas on how expectations differ between 39-year-old versions of LeBron James and Michael Jordan
Being consistently scrutinized for his inability to secure wins for the Los Angeles Lakers on a nightly basis, anything less than a championship for a 39-year-old LeBron James is considered a disappointment.
Gilbert Arenas, however, recently highlighted a double standard by pointing out that when Michael Jordan was in his second year with the Washington Wizards and couldn’t lead the team to the postseason despite having fellow stars, there was hardly any criticism.
"When Michael Jordan was playing with the Wizards and he bring all those vets to try to win some games, they were supposed to be a playoff seed. When they were losing, no one talked bad about Michael Jordan. No one said nothing," Arenas said. "So why ya'll not doing it for this 39-year-old (James)? Why is he expected to win when the GOAT didn't? They had high hopes for that second year, and they fell short, and no one blamed Michael Jordan for it because of his age."
The difference in perception between Bron and MJ
Arenas astutely highlighted that the answer to the issue lies in perception, and it’s not a fault attributed to the fans. Had "The King" not been performing at a Top 10 player level, this conversation might not even be happening.
Moreover, considering that the Purple and Gold reached the Western Conference Finals last season, fans naturally expect them to one-up their performance this year.
On the other hand, "His Airness," in his two-season tenure with the Wizards, possessed the leadership acumen but wasn't the identical player he had been with the Chicago Bulls. As a result, the expectations for him to mount a serious championship challenge were tempered.
Brendan Haywood defended Jordan
Interestingly, in response to Arenas’ perspective, his former teammate Brendan Haywood mentioned a nuanced viewpoint. The 2011 NBA champion highlighted that the 19-time All-Star is justified in harboring championship aspirations due to the presence of a superstar teammate in Anthony Davis.
This is a luxury that the six-time Finals MVP never experienced during his stint with the Wizards.
"MJ didn't have Anthony Davis on his team or anybody remotely close to his level of talent," Haywood wrote.
While the contrast in expectations seems to pose a significant challenge for the four-time MVP, the GOAT narrative could undergo a compelling transformation should James succeed in clinching a championship at this age.
