Who is a more Efficient shooter: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

Most people consider Michael Jordan one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, and for good reason. He won 10 scoring titles, dropped 30 a night like it was routine, and made the midrange jumper look like an art form. Ask anyone from the ‘90s era, and they’ll tell you MJ was unstoppable. But if we look beyond the nostalgia and focus purely on the numbers, especially shooting efficiency, the conversation starts to shift in a surprising direction.

LeBron James isn’t usually brought up first when it comes to scoring greatness. He’s often seen as the all-around guy. The pass-first forward who makes the right play and racks up points simply because he’s played so long. But that perspective doesn’t do him justice. Because when you look at how efficiently LeBron scores, how much value he gets out of every shot, he actually outperforms Jordan across the board, especially in the regular season.

Start with field goal percentage. Over the course of their careers, LeBron has shot 50.64 percent from the field, compared to Jordan’s 49.69 percent. That may not seem like a huge gap, but over thousands of attempts, it’s significant. It means LeBron is finishing plays more effectively, whether it’s attacking the rim, pulling up, or even posting up. Then there’s three-point shooting. LeBron has steadily improved over his career, and currently holds a career average of 34.59 percent from deep. Jordan’s three-point percentage sits at 32.68 percent. Keep in mind, LeBron has made over 2,500 threes, nearly five times as many as Jordan, while still maintaining higher overall efficiency. But what really sets LeBron apart are the advanced shooting metrics. His effective field goal percentage, which adjusts for the added value of three-pointers, is 54.8 percent. Jordan’s is 50.9 percent. That’s a clear gap. True shooting percentage, which accounts for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws, tells the same story: LeBron at 59.0 percent, Jordan at 56.9. These stats remove all context about minutes played or total games and simply show how efficient each player is when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. And LeBron comes out ahead.

People love to say LeBron’s scoring totals are just a product of longevity. But when you’re not just shooting more, but shooting better, for this long, that’s not just about lasting, that’s sustained dominance. Longevity might get you more games. But efficiency? That gets you respect. LeBron has maintained elite efficiency over 20+ seasons, adapting his game along the way. He’s scored inside, developed a solid post game, evolved his outside shooting, and picked his spots with surgical precision. That’s not just aging well, that’s basketball IQ and skill meeting longevity.Now, if you take that level of efficiency and apply it to the most intense moments in basketball, the playoffs, the story remains the same.

In the postseason, where every possession matters more, LeBron actually gets more efficient, not less. His playoff field goal percentage is 49.65 percent compared to Jordan’s 48.65. From three, he edges Jordan again: 33.26 percent to 33.18. The gap widens in the advanced stats. LeBron’s playoff effective field goal percentage is 53.7, Jordan’s is 50.3. His true shooting percentage in the playoffs is 58.4, compared to Jordan’s 56.8. Even in the face of tougher defenses, higher stakes, and increased pressure, LeBron maintains better shooting efficiency. And he’s done it over a much larger sample size. He’s played more playoff games, taken more shots, scored more points, and still stayed more efficient. That’s not just being consistent, that’s being great when it matters most.

The only area Jordan holds an advantage is free throw shooting. He shot 82.84 percent from the line in the playoffs, while LeBron sits at 74.12. But free throws aside, when it comes to generating points through regular shot attempts, LeBron has been more productive and more precise.

What’s remarkable is that LeBron has managed this efficiency while evolving with the game. Jordan played in an era that wasn’t three-point heavy, and he excelled in the midrange. LeBron came into the league when spacing started to matter more and adjusted his game year after year.

At the end of the day, no one’s trying to erase what Jordan accomplished. He’s a legend. But when it comes to pure scoring efficiency, who gets the most out of every shot they take, LeBron James quietly has the edge. And the numbers aren’t shouting. They’re calmly, clearly telling the truth. LeBron is not just one of the greatest scorers ever. He’s one of the smartest, most efficient ones too. It’s time people start recognizing that.

If you're looking for someone to hit free throws, Michael Jordan’s your guy. But if you need someone who can score from anywhere on the court well, you know who to call.