Lebron is a COMPLETELY different player. He is a playmaker for other players. Jordan made his own plays. Lebron gets his statistics in the flow of the game, Jordan made his statistics happen.
When Jordan would drive to the basket, it looked like somebody was going to wind up hurt. He drove with a reckless abandon and when he jumped, he could create. Either somebody was getting dunked on, Jordan was getting fouled, or Jordan was switching his shot in the air and getting a lay up. Sometimes a mixture of that. There was no way of knowing what Jordan would do, he would just do it, and all you could do was watch. Also, when Jordan was on the perimeter and would go one way, if another defender came, Jordan could change directions. He could freestyle in the lane. If he had a move planned, and something went wrong, he could change his plan and still get what he wanted.
Lebron James doesn't drive nearly as much as MJ did, and when he does drive, he never shows the creativity Jordan did. Lebron does a spin move that is nearly unstoppable, but he does it a lot. If that doesn't work, he will maybe force a shot or just kick the ball out. Lebron doesn't have the quickness to change directions or the instincts to adjust his shot like Jordan. It's just not Lebrons game. But this is a HUGE difference, because Lebrons lack of a driving game constitutes a lack of ability to take a game over.
Lebron is unstoppable in the open court however. If he gets the ball on the wing and is withing leaping distance to the rim, just count it. He can jump ridiculously high, higher than everybody else on the court (guaranteed, I don't care who is playing) and will have his way. What he needs to do is do this more often, as he will get an uncontested shot anytime he does this. I have a plan for Lebron: get to within eight feet of the rim or less, jump as high as he can, and shoot/layup/dunk. Nobody will stop him.
Lebron is a passer. He came into the league passing, and he's still passing. He's passing extremely well, being in the top 10 in assists. He is an amazingly creative passer, and his passes seem to always be on the money. Jordan was never a passer, well, at least not until later in his career. Lebron is much better at getting his teammates involved. This is a tremendous assett, but does not his case at being the best ever. Lebron will always be dependent on his teammates. Jordan never was. If Lebrons teammates aren't hitting their shots or doing what they are supposed to be doing, Lebron will sink.
Lebron has to have his teammates to win. Sure, Lebron can hit the three, he can drive, and he can hit the open jumper. But he has to have his teammates to be able to do these things. His teammates have to be commanding the defenses respect in order to space the floor and let Lebron do his thing. If his teammates are failing, the defense will attract to James, who doesn't have the quickness to avoid double teams and slash. When his jumper developes even better, he will be able to hit jumpshots over defenders (he can right now), but if his jump shot isn't working, he won't have much to go on.
Jordan could do anything he wanted on the court at any time he wanted. If he was double teamed, he could slice through it like paper. Jordan was the quickest player in the league, one of the best ball handlers, the highest jumper, and easily the most creative scorer. From the moment he stepped on the court to the moment he retired, he was the best at creating his own shot. Lebron does not have this ability yet. He may never have it.
As far as competitive desire goes, I don't doubt Lebrons. I think Lebron is very competitive, and we probably don't know quite the degree his competitiveness goes to. But we do know Jordan, who was pathologically competitive, so much so that I wouldn't doubt it destroys his life later on down the road. Jordan has a serious mental condition. He HAS to win, no matter what it takes. He will cheat if he has to, he must win. Lebron is probably competitive, but not as much. In the short term, it gave Jordan 6 championships and the title 'greatest ever.' In the short term, James' competitiveness will probably give him at least a couple. But I think Lebron will have the ability to live happily after basketball, and I think that Jordan never will. Unless Jordan seeks help or the Lord steps in to give him some wisdom, I think Jordan will descend into an unaproachable mess, and the final chapter in his life may be madness.
Athletically, James runs a 4.4 40 yard dash, Jordan ran a 4.3. Not much difference. James has a 37 inch vertical (in high school, it's probably like a 39-40 now), Jordan had a 42 in college (probably a 44-45 in the pros). Not much difference there. James is stronger, Jordan is quicker. The thing is, James wasn't much stronger than Jordan, but Jordan was much quicker than James. This is why, late in the game, you bite your nails if Jordan is against you, and if James is against you, you hope that one of his teammates isn't open.
Lebron James will most likely be a better, more athletic version of Magic Johnson. But even a delux Magic won't add up to Jordan.
What about Dwyane Wade?
Dwayne Wade, while much smaller (6-4, 212) has nearly ever single ability Jordan had. He is ultra quick, ultra fast, jumps ultra high and is ultra competitive. He is amazingly creative and can change his shot on a whim. He attacks the basket with reckless abandon, and is very strong. He relies on nobody to get his, and he is money in the clutch. The only problem is, he's small. He isn't quite Jordans equal in any of the categories, but he is as close as anybody has ever been. He is more valuable in the clutch than James, and I'm sure I wouldn't want Wade over James. But Wade is a few years older, so he will pass him prime a little earlier. But still, Wade might be the real deal.
Lebron James best realistic season: 31 ppg, 10 rpg, 11 apg, 3 spg. Lebron, if given the right teammates, could deliver some of the best stat lines ever. Even Jordan didn't average a triple dub for a whole season (though he did get 35, 8 and 8).
Dwyane Wades best realistic season: 35ppg, 6rpg, 8apg, 3spg. Once Shaq retires and Wade is 26 (athletic prime is normally 25-29), it will be insane. Nobody will stop him. Count Wade to hit at least one MVP in his career. He is a bigger threat to the Jordan throne than James, but you have to pick James over him because of his size and passing.