Defense

Read in my Michael Jordan book that MJ was the first player in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocked shots in the same season. Amazing.

Did a little research - MJ did it again the very next season. The next year Hakeem Olajuwon did it, then the year after that Scottie Pippen did it. Those are the only four times it's happened, and Jordan did it twice.

year.steals.blocks

86-87 236 125 MJ

87-88 259 131 MJ

88-89 213 282 HO

89-90 211 101 SP

00-00 177 052 LBJ

00-00 137 093 LBJ

00-00 181 067 KB

00-00 173 106 DW

Note LeBron James and Kobe Bryant's best two seasons above. Also Dwayne Wade's. many young whippersnappers think Lebron is better than Michael, without checking the facts. Many think Jordan was a scorer, but his stats prove he was a better all-around player than Lebron or Kobe, and of course a better scorer than Magic or Larry.

games.min.FG%.FF%.RB.A...S..BLK.PPG.YR.steals.blocks

1072  38.3 .497 .835  6.2 5.3 2.3 0.8 30.1 15 2514 893 MJ

1014  38.9 .498 .743  7.2 6.9 1.7 0.8 27.1 14 1695 787 LBJ

1346  36.1 .447 .837  5.2 4.7 1.4 0.5 25.0 20 1944 640 KB
0906  36.7 .520 .848  7.2 11. 1.9 0.4 19.5 13 1724 374 EMJ
0897  38.4 .496 .886  10. 6.3 1.7 0.8 24.3 13 1556 755 LB

So Kobe played five more seasons than MJ, but still finished with fewer steals and blocks.